Myth:
Wind turbines strip moisture from the soil in surrounding areas, and therefore exacerbate droughts, particularly in dry countries like Australia.
Fact:
It’s true that onshore wind turbines can reduce the moisture in soils, but the amount is so small as to be insignificant. A European study showed that moisture reduction was just 0.002316 percent around wind farms. That is just two-thousandths of a percent!
As far as offshore wind turbines are concerned, studies have shown that when densely packed they can cause a very small increase in precipitation in the surrounding area and a similarly small decrease in the area beyond. The amount is so small as to have no impact on farming.
A wind farm near the mining town of Broken Hill, in western New South Wales. [Source: Corinne Gaston]
Sources:
Adam Thomas, “Wind farm weather influence,” UDAILY, University of Delaware, 9/12/20
Rachel Williamson, “Do wind turbines make droughts worse? A new study says they do not,” Renew Economy, 21/8/26