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Second International Meeting on Wind Turbine Noise Lyon France September 20 – 21 2007

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Second International Meeting on Wind Turbine Noise Lyon France September 20 – 21 2007 Second International Meeting on Wind Turbine Noise Lyon France September 20 – 21 2007 Uncloaking the Nature of Wind Turbines – Using the Science of Meteorology William K.G. Palmer B.A.Sc. P. Eng TRI-LEA-EM RR 5 Paisley, ON N0G 2N0 Canada [email protected] Abstract One fact everyone agrees about wind turbines – you either love them or you hate them. The larger proportion of the general population who live far from them think wind turbines are great – while the smaller proportion representing people with homes near where wind turbines have been erected have concerns, particularly about noise. On a popular vote basis, as seen by elected officials, the choice is clear, but on a justice basis, who looks out for the impacted few? Applying the tenet that widely expressed concerns usually have some basis in truth, this paper applies the unemotional standard of science to determine that truth. A clue was given in the dissertation of Dr. G.P. van den Berg [1], “The sounds of high winds – the effect of atmospheric stability on wind turbine sound and microphone noise” published in 2006. Dr. van den Berg identified that as the atmospheric profile changes from unstable in the sunlit hours to stable after sunset it could have a significant impact on the noise perceived by residents around wind farms. He was unable to fully compare wind velocities at 10 metres and hub height to correlate with his noise measurements as the turbine hub height data was not readily available. The province of Ontario, in Canada installed its first large scale commercial wind farms rated at 40, 68, 99, and 189 MW capacity in 2006 (See Figure 1). The Ontario wind farm hourly electrical output is available to the public on the internet [2], and from this and the power curve of the installed wind turbines the hub wind speed can be accurately estimated. Simultaneously, the Environment Canada meteorological services weather office makes available on the internet hourly wind speed at 10 metres for weather stations near the wind farms [3]. These two pieces of information provide the raw data that was unavailable to Dr. van den Berg in his work to correlate the wind velocities at different elevations to noise. This report correlates weather and electrical output data for two wind farms for a full year. One is the 39.6 MW Kingsbridge Wind Farm, consisting of 22 Vestas V80 1.8 MW turbines, north of Goderich Ontario, located near the shore of Lake Huron, where the weather station is within sight of the turbines (See Figure 2). The second is the 67.5 MW Amaranth Wind Farm, consisting of 45 GE 1.5 MW sle turbines, located well inland of the great lakes, north west of Shelburne Ontario. The results for both wind farms show a strong day to night pattern, as well as a seasonal nature that explains a significant part of the noise problem that people near turbines face. The results of this paper show that the understanding expressed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (based on the IEC 61400-11 standard [4]) does not protect the public from excessive annoyance. Since many national or provincial standards seem to be based on IEC 61400-11, it is hoped that the data presented, and the methodology shown will enable anyone to calculate the effect from readily available information. This should be of interest to the developers of standards. This paper recommends that the sound level for wind turbines be calculated for the highest predictable value of wind shear that is expected when turbine output is high to prevent future problems faced by residents near wind farms. Introduction The research that generated this report arose from a simple question, which received an elusive answer. While reviewing the expected environmental impacts for the proposed 199.65 MW Enbridge Ontario Wind Project, which was to become the largest single wind project in Canada, a reference to a copy of the paper by Dr. Frits van den Berg [5], “Effect of the wind profile at night on wind turbine sound” was found. The simple question was asked of the wind farm proponent if this phenomenon, of a change in wind profile at night, could be a factor to be considered when siting wind turbines near homes? The response received, instead of being simple, was obscure. “The van den Berg paper … is in specific reference to UK approaches” the response assured. Also, “the technical source data … was obtained using the procedures of international standard IEC 61400-11” and “the analysis was done using state-of-the-art, 3-D, acoustical modelling software based on another standard for analysing outdoor sound propagation, ISO 9613-2 [6].” Further, the response reassured that “a range of wind speeds has been used and compared against the Ministry of the Environment’s (MOE) requirements … the modelling techniques … have been used for several years … with no problems arising.” There is a lesson here, if a simple question is not answered, but the response liberally drops code names and assurances of “no problems ever”, suspicions are raised. A curious nature, heightened by reports from people living near recently commissioned wind farms where noise problems were being experienced, as well as a tiny concern of what might be hidden by the smoke screen in the answer received, resulted in this study that led to some very clear conclusions. There is a problem in the way we are siting wind farms, and it explains why the public around the world living near wind farms are facing concerns. Application of scientific principles shows conclusively that noise problems can be predictably forecast, problems that can and should be averted. Wind turbines must not hide under the cloak of being an environmental panacea, if their development destroys the local environment for people living near where the turbines are installed. The goal of this paper is to bring the facts into the light of the truth. To love our neighbours, we must not hurt them, and it is only by standing on the truth that either science or faith can be fulfilled. Ontario Wind Farms Goderich Airport and Weather Station - Main locations installed in 2006 – K in g sb r i d g e W in d Farm in background Figure 1 Figure 2 Sources of the Problem Noise limitations on Ontario wind farms fall under the Ministry of the Environment “Sound Level Limits for Stationary Sources in Class 3 Areas (Rural)”, Publication NPC-232 [7], or the “Sound Level Limits for Stationary Sources in Class 1 & 2 Areas (Urban)”, Publication NPC-205 [8]. These guidelines require the assessment of a “predictable worst case” considered to be a planned and predictable mode of operation. If background sound levels are low, the allowable One Hour Equivalent Sound Level (Leq) in evening and overnight hours at a rural point of reception is 40 dBA, and at an urban point of reception is 45 dBA. The Ministry of the Environment document “Interpretation for Applying MOE NPC Technical Publications to Wind Turbine Generators” [9] expects that background sound levels will increase with average wind speed, and allows an increase in the wind turbine noise criterion for either the rural case (NPC-232) or the urban case (NPC-205) as shown in Table 1. Table 1 – Allowed Wind Turbine Noise per Ontario MOE “Interpretation for … Wind Turbine Generators” document Wind Speed (m/s) at 10 m 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wind Turbine Noise 40 40 40 43 45 49 51 53 Criterion NPC-232 (dBA) Wind Turbine Noise 45 45 45 45 45 49 51 53 Criterion NPC-205 (dBA) This table implicitly assumes a constant relationship between wind speed at the hub of a wind turbine and wind speed at the level of the receptor. Assuming a constant relationship between wind speeds at different levels will be shown to be a problem. A separately issued Frequently Asked Questions document identifies that all sound level data, including wind turbine manufacturer’s specifications and the MOE limits at point of reception, should correspond to wind speeds measured at 10 metre height above grade. The Ontario “Interpretation for … Wind Turbine Generators” document refers to the IEC Standard 61400-11. This standard shows a logarithmic relationship between wind speeds measured at the rotor centre height and a reference height of 10 metres based on the site roughness length. The fact that standard IEC 61400-11 converts wind speeds at height to a reference condition by the same logarithmic wind profile relationship for all hours of the day using site roughness may be fine if comparing noise measurements for two different turbines, but it is of little use to predict noise levels achieved at a receptor, and is not consistent with the understanding of wind shear as known by meteorologists and aviators. These professionals understand that variations in wind speed in a vertical direction (wind shear) changes at night, and it is not accurate to describe it as being a consistent logarithmic relationship based on surface roughness at all hours of the day. This can have a significant noise impact on people living near wind farms. A good introduction for non-meteorologists is found in the Environment Canada – Meteorology Self Instructions course available on the internet [10]. The module on “Pressure and Wind” for “Lower Level Winds” shows that diurnal changes in surface wind speed and direction occur as a result of daytime heating of the surface. Over land on a hot day, the winds tend to conform to the winds at the 1000 metre level. In making this change from its usual speed and direction, the surface wind will tend to "veer" (wind direction changes to be aligned to the isobars) and increase in speed.
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