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Acoustics, Noise and Vibration Control
News Release from: Institute of Acoustics | Subject: Wind farm noise
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 13 February 2006
Is the answer blowing in the wind?
Following the immense interest in its meeting on wind farm noise, the Institute of Acoustics is organising its second meeting on the subject at Stratford upon Avon.
Following the immense interest in its meeting on wind farm noise in September 2005, the Institute of Acoustics is organising its second meeting on the subject on Tuesday, 25 April at Stratford upon Avon Noise is an increasingly significant issue in the development of renewable energy as more wind farms are proposed closer to housing
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 6 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Neighbours of these proposed wind farms are often more worried about noise than they need to be, but not always.
Over the years mechanical noise has been much reduced by improved design and better insulation of the nacelle enclosing the mechanism.
On the other hand aerodynamic noise of turbines at full power has increased compared with 10 years ago but they produce 5 times the power.
Further reading
Seminar on Control of Vibration and Noise
"Let's Get Physical" is an Institute of Acoustics one-day seminar on the Control of Vibration and Control of Noise at Work Regulations
On course for a career in acoustics
The Institute of Acoustics, the UK's leading professional body for those working in acoustics, noise and vibration, runs high-level Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control.
To offset the increase of noise, variable speed or two speed turbines can have significantly lower noise levels at low wind speeds when background noise levels are lower and nuisance is most likely to be caused.
Various models are available to predict community noise levels from turbines.
There are uncertainties in all these models due to meteorological conditions including wind and temperature gradients and topography.
Even having solved the issue of turbine noise the assessment of impact on the community is difficult to ascertain.
It depends on an accurate assessment of background noise related to wind speed.
At present noise from wind farms at sensitive locations is assessed by using a report published in 1996 by the DTI.
The working group that wrote it said it should be reviewed in two years and many think that, indeed, a review is overdue.
There are other issues that have been aired in the press in recent years such as vibration and low frequency noise.
Is the "swish" of the turbine blades such a dominant characteristic that it ought to attract a penalty in a noise assessment? Planning conditions have to be enforceable.
Devising conditions that are fair to both developer and neighbours is difficult, not least because turbine noise varies with wing speed and direction and so does background noise.
The meeting will discuss all these subjects and the speakers panel will contain most of the active noise consultants working on wind farm assessments in the UK.
The meeting will be of interest to environmental health officers who have to advise on noise aspects of planning, noise consultants who are advising all parties and developers' and objectors' representatives. Request a free brochure from Institute of Acoustics ...
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