Wind 101 Environment Shadow Flicker Noise Birds & Bats Aesthetics
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Shadow Flicker Zone
North
South ©Nordex
Analysis Software is Available Noise • Distinctly Audible They Are Not Silent They Will Be Heard • Great Reductions in Noise • But Noise is Constant--Ever-Present Except During Calms • Small Turbines Are Noisiest Air 303-403 Noise For Their Size
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Bergey Noise Noise Footprint
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Air 403 Noise at Wulf Test Field 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52
dBA (Leq) 50 48 46 44 42 40 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Wind Speed (mph)
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Air 403 SPL Summary Wulf Test Field 68 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 dBA (Leq) 50 48 46 44 42 40 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Wind Speed (mph)
Ambient Charging
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Calculated & Measured Noise Emissions Source Sound Power Level at 8 m/s
Sound Power Level dBA 120 1980s 1990s L=22 log D + 72 110 ! 1999, Small & Micro& H40 !! ! 100 !! !! ! !!! ! ! ! !! ! !! & BWC 850 ! ! 90 ,,Air303 & H40 , L=22 log D + 65 80 & AirX
70
60 1 10 100 Diameter (meters)
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Noise Source Strength
Sound Power Level (Emission Source Strength) for Selected Wind Turbines, an Estimated Distance to 45 dBA
Swept Rated Tower @ 8 m/s1 Distance to Diameter Area Power Height dBA 45 dBA2 2 m ft m kW m ft Leq m ft Air 403 1.2 3.8 1 0.32 20 66 88 50 160 Whisper H40 2.4 8 5 0.9 20 66 85 35 110 Furländer 13 43 133 30 27 89 93 95 310 Lagerwey 18/80 18 59 254 80 32 105 96 125 410 Enercon E40 40 131 1,257 500 63 207 100 200 660 Vestas V66 66 216 3,421 1,650 67 220 102 225 740 1. Sound Power Levels increase with increasing wind speed. 2. Estimated using IEA model and atmospheric absorption.
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Noise Community Response
Community Response to Noise from Sources Other Than Wind Turbines
Amount by which Estimated Community Response Noise Exceeds Background Level dB Category Description 0 None No observed reaction 5 Little Sporadic complaints 10 Medium Widespread complaints 15 Strong Threats of action 20 Very Strong Vigorous action Source: Harvey Hubbard, Kevin Shepherd, NASA, 1990. Note: This table was derived for noise sources other than wind turbines and neighbors could be either more or less sensitive to wind turbine noise than that indicated here.
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Noise Limits Selected Noise Limits, Sound Pressure Levels in dBA
Commercial Mixed Residential Rural Germany Day 65 60 55 50 Night 50 45 40 35 Netherlands Day Leq 50 45 40 Night 40 35 30 1 Denmark Leq 40 45 2 England High speed L50 45 Low speed L50 40 Minnesota Day L50 75 65 60 60 Night L50 75 65 50 50 Minnesota Day L10 80 70 65 65 Night L10 80 70 55 55 3 Kern County, Calif. L8.3 45 45 Riverside County, Calif. L90 45 4 Palm Springs, Calif. L90 50 60 1. Not to exceed 45 dBA beyond 400 m from wind turbine 2. L50 approx. 350 m from the nearest turbine. 3. L8.3., not to exceed 50 dBA. 4. 50 dBA if lot is actually used as residential.
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Birds & Bats Cros de Gerand, France • Before & After Studies of Big Projects • Studies Necessary for Small Projects?
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Birds & Bats • Bats Appalachian Mts & Buffalo Ridge (MN) Bat Conservation Society Report Cause Unknown & Further Research In Doubt US Wind Industry Uncooperative Seasonal Shut Down Possible • Birds, Altamont Pass Issue Unresolved California Wind Industry Uncooperative Disaster for Raptors & Wind Energy
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Birds Killed in the Altamont Pass
Per Year Low High
Total 1,766 4,721
Raptors 881 1,300
Raptors/MW 1.5 2.2
Source: Developing Methods to Reduce Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass WRA, August 2004, P500-04-052.
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Bat Kills in North America • 2,100 Bats Killed at Mountaineer, WV • Total Could be Higher--4,000 • Mountaineer 44 Multi-Megawatt Turbines • TVA’s Tennessee Site, 3 V47 ~85 Bats/yr
Source: Bat Conservation International; www.batcon.org
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Aesthetic Guidelines: Design As If People Matter
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Increasing Acceptance #1
“Your Own Pigs Don’t Stink”
Jutland, Denmark Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Public Opinion Surveys • “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder” True, But Most People Agree on “Beauty” • Broad Support ~ 70%-90% On Both Sides of the Atlantic • In the Abstract! Benefits Global Impacts Local
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Acceptance of Wind Energy
Percent Acceptance High Pre-Project Post-Installation
During Project
Low Time
Source: L. Arkesteijn, Energy Connection
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Power Plant Acceptance
100%
80%
60%
40% Neutral Rejectors 20% NIMBYs Acceptors 0% Nuclear Fossil Biomass Wind Thayer, Consumer Attitude and Choice
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Power Plant Acceptance
Ratings 5
! ! 4.5 WIND !
4 " " " 3.5 # BIOMASS # ! FOSSIL 3 " #
2.5 # NUCLEAR
2 Visual Quality Health & Safety Environmental Impact Overall Thayer, R. Consumer Attitude and Choice
PaulPaul Gipe, Gipe, wind-works.org wind-works.org Increasing Acceptance #2
• Minimize Wind’s Footprint Physical--Roads, Foundations, Buildings Environmental & Visual • Seek Harmony with Neighbors & the Environment • Wind as a part of the Landscape • Not a Wind Landscape as in California • NIMBY to POOL
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Aesthetic Design--Not New Idea
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org CalPoly 1984 Provide Distinct Visual Units
CalPoly 1984 Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Ancillary Structures Off Hills & Ridges
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Chris Blandford Assoc. Provide Visual Uniformity
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Them Spinning
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Them Clean Use a Drip Pan or a Diaper (Nappie)
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Bury All Intra-Project Lines
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Montefalcone, Italy Bury All Intra-Project Lines
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Visual Clutter
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org, 2003, with Telephoto Lens Avoid “Industrialization”
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Mixing Types
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Use Open Spacing Don’t Get Greedy
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove Dead Turbines
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove Headless Horsemen
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Dress for Success
Nacelle Covers Nose Cones
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Minimize Roads
• Use Existing Roads • Use Existing Tracks • Minimize Width • Minimize Radius • Harden Where Needed
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org . . . Or Eliminate Roads
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Minimize Physical Footprint . . . Especially in Arid Terrain
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Steep Slopes
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org No Mountain-Top Removal!
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Cell (Mobile) Phones
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org No Billboards
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org No Logo!
Or Subtle Logo Only
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Control Erosion
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Revegetate Site
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Use Proper Proportions
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Eliminate Fencing Sends the Wrong Message . . .“Keep Out, Danger”
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Inform Public
Simpler is Better
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org TREC/WindShare, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Inform Public
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Provide Parking
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Provide Access
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Garish Patterns
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Tvind, Denmark Use White, Off-White, or Gray
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Sites Tidy
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove Trash & Litter
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove “Bone” or Scrap Yards
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Spring Forth . . . Organically
Avoid Surface Expression of Foundation
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Pay Attention to Detail
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures With Other Structures on Landscape
Buildings
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures Transformers (Use Architectural Façades)
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures
Place Transformers Inside Towers
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures
• Harden Access Where Needed • Paint Over Graffiti
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org In Sum . . . Be A Good Neighbor
Paul Gipe, wind-works.org