Recent Advances in Wind Turbine Noise Research

Abstract

This review is focussed on large-scale, horizontal-axis upwind turbines. Vertical-axis turbines are not considered here as they are not sufficiently efficient to be deployed in the commercial generation of electricity. Recent developments in horizontal-axis wind turbine noise research are summarised and topics that are pertinent to the problem, but are yet to be investigated, are explored and suggestions for future research are offered. The major portion of recent and current research on wind turbine noise generation, propagation and its effects on people and animals is being undertaken by groups in Europe, UK, USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Considerable progress has been made in understanding wind turbine noise generation and propagation as well as the effect of wind farm noise on people, birds and animals. However, much remains to be done to answer many of the questions for which answers are still uncertain. In addition to community concerns about the effect of wind farm noise on people and how best to regulate wind farm noise and check installed wind farms for compliance, there is considerable interest from turbine manufacturers in developing quieter rotors, with the intention of allowing wind farm installations to be closer to populated areas. The purpose of this paper is to summarise recent and current wind farm noise research work and the research questions that remain to be addressed or are in the process of being addressed. Topics that are the subject of on-going research are discussed briefly and references to recent and current work are included.

Investigations on Low Frequency Noises of On-Shore Wind Turbines

“…One of the reasons for this development are slow approval processes often caused by local resistance in terms of environmental aspects (e.g., animal protection, deforestation) and expected visual or acoustic disturbances caused by the planned wind turbines (WT) [2]. In many cases, it is argued that low frequency and infrasonic (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) acoustic emissions in combination with low frequency vibrations lead to the perceptibility of wind turbines even at large distances.…”

“…These factors in turn could lead to the mentioned health effects, which are not solely correlated with acoustic factors. Due to [8], the relation of health effects provoked by infrasound need more research for clear answers.…”

A Review of the Potential Impacts of Wind Turbine Noise in the Australian Context

“…In a further publication, the committee [12] recognised and responded to the need to review the scientific literature relating to possible perceptual and physiological effects of infrasound and low-frequency sound (IS/LF). Previous reviews [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] have mostly relied on an epidemiological approach providing meta-analysis of the existing populationbased research. As outlined in Appendix, the sensitivity of this approach appears quite low.…”

Aeroacoustic Assessment of Wind Plant Controls

“…Social acceptance of wind turbines and wind plant development depends to some extent on the noise produced by wind turbines. However, sensitivity to wind turbine noise may also be driven partly by other social acceptance factors, such as visual impacts or local land-use policy, with lower acceptance driving greater sensitivity to such noise (Enevoldsen and Sovacool 2016;Hansen and Hansen 2020). The complex interactions of human perception require detailed research to investigate.…”