DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2007/033)
issued by The Government News Network on 1 August 2007
A comprehensive
study by Salford University has concluded that the noise
phenomenon known as aerodynamic modulation (AM) is not an issue
for the UK's wind farm fleet.
AM indicates aerodynamic noise from wind turbines that is greater
than the normal degree of regular fluctuation of blade swoosh. It
is sometimes described as sounding like a distant train or distant
piling operation.
The Government commissioned work assessed 133 operational wind
projects across Britain and found that although the occurrence of
AM cannot be fully predicted, the incidence of it from operational
turbines is low.
Commentating on wind farm worries, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said:
"Where there are legitimate problems we will address them.
But it is essential that we produce more wind power if we are to
meet our climate change and security of supply aims."
Out of all the working wind farms at the time of the study, there
were four cases where AM appeared to be a factor. Complaints have
subsided for three out of these four sites, in one case as a
result of remedial treatment in the form of a wind turbine control
system. In the remaining case, which is a recent installation,
investigations are ongoing.
Based on these findings, Government does not consider there to be
a compelling case for more work into AM and will not carry out any
further research at this time; however it will continue to keep
the issue under review.
Notes to Editors
1. The Research into aerodynamic modulation of wind turbine noise
- Report by the University of Salford was jointly commissioned by
three government departments, BERR, DCLG and Defra. For a full
copy click here: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file40570.pdf
Full statement:
University of Salford, Research into Aerodynamic Modulation of
Wind Turbine Noise
Government statement regarding the findings of the Salford
University report into Aerodynamic Modulation of Wind Turbine
Noise
In 2006 DTI (now BERR) published a study by Hayes
McKenzie1 which investigated claims that infrasound or low
frequency noise emitted by wind turbine generators was causing
health effects. The report concluded that there is no evidence of
health effects arising from infrasound or low frequency noise
generated by wind turbines. The report went on to note that a
phenomenon known as Aerodynamic Modulation (AM) was in some
isolated circumstances occurring in ways not anticipated by ETSU-R-972.
Having taken the view that more work was required to determine
whether or not AM is an issue which may require attention in the
context of the assessment and rating advice in ETSU, the
Government commissioned Salford University to conduct a further work.
The objectives of this study were to:
* To establish the levels and nature of the reported noise
complaints received across the UK relating to noise issues from
wind farms, both historic and current, and determine whether AM is
a significant effect;
* To review and understand the level of knowledge/understanding
that exists throughout the world on AM, and whether AM can be predicted;
The Salford University study has now been published3. The study
concluded that although AM cannot be fully predicted, the
incidence of AM resulting from wind farms in the UK is low. Out of
the 133 wind farms in operation at the time of the study, there
were four cases where AM appeared to be a factor. Complaints have
subsided for three out of these four sites, in one case as a
result of remedial treatment in the form of a wind turbine control
system. In the remaining case, which is a recent installation,
investigations are ongoing.
Based on these findings, Government does not consider there to be
a compelling case for further work into AM and will not carry out
any further research at this time; however it will continue to
keep the issue under review.
Government continues to support the approach set out in Planning
Policy Statement (PPS) 22 - Renewable Energy. This approach is for
local planning authorities to "ensure that renewable energy
developments have been located and designed in such a way to
minimise increases in ambient noise levels", through the use
of the 1997 report by ETSU to assess and rate noise from wind
energy developments.
2. For a copy of the report click here: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/publications/page31267.html
3. The method of assessing the impact of the wind farm locally is
described in 'The assessment and rating of noise from wind
farms', ETSU-R-97, by the Working Group on Noise from Wind
Turbines (Final Report, September 1996). Since its publication,
this report has been used to evaluate the noise from wind farms in
the UK.
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