Wind Turbine Related Noise: Current Knowledge and Research Needs
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Wind Turbine-Related Noise: Current Knowledge and Research Needs June 2013 NYSERDA Report 13-14 for Energy NYSERDA’s Promise to New Yorkers: NYSERDA provides resources, expertise and objective information so New Yorkers can make confident, informed energy decisions. Our Mission: Advance innovative energy solutions in ways that improve New York’s economy and environment. Our Vision: Serve as a catalyst—advancing energy innovation and technology, transforming New York’s economy, empowering people to choose clean and efficient energy as part of their everyday lives. Our Core Values: Objectivity, integrity, public service, partnership and innovation. Our Portfolios NYSERDA programs are organized into five portfolios, each representing a complementary group of offerings with common areas of energy-related focus and objectives. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Deployment Energy and the Environment Helping to assess and mitigate the environmental impacts of Helping New York to achieve its aggressive energy efficiency and energy production and use – including environmental research renewable energy goals – including programs to motivate increased and development, regional initiatives to improve environmental efficiency in energy consumption by consumers (residential, sustainability and West Valley Site Management. commercial, municipal, institutional, industrial, and transportation), to increase production by renewable power suppliers, to support Energy Data, Planning and Policy market transformation and to provide financing. Helping to ensure that policy-makers and consumers have Energy Technology Innovation and Business Development objective and reliable information to make informed energy decisions – including State Energy Planning; policy analysis to | Helping to stimulate a vibrant innovation ecosystem and a clean- support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and other energy energy economy in New York– including programs to support initiatives; emergency preparedness; and a range of energy data product research, development, and demonstrations; clean-energy reporting, including Patterns and Trends. business development; and the knowledge-based community at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park®. Energy Education and Workforce Development Helping to build a generation of New Yorkers ready to lead and work in a clean energy economy – including consumer behavior, youth education, workforce development and training programs for existing and emerging technologies. 2 Wind Turbine Noise: Current Knowledge and Research Needs Prepared for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Albany, NY nyserda.ny.gov Gregory Lampman Project Manager Prepared by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Albany, NY nyserda.ny.gov Meghan Krug Intern June 2013 i Acronyms and Abbreviations List dB decibel dBA decibel level on A weighted sound pressure scale dBC decibel level on C weighted sound pressure scale dBG decibel level on G weighted sound pressure scale DEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation DOH New York State Department of Health EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency ft feet hr hour Hz hertz km kilometer Ldn A-weighted sound level average over 24 hr with 10 dB penalty added to nighttime levels Leq long-term equivalent A-weighted sound level m meters mph miles per hour MW megawatts m/s meters per second NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NYSERDA New York State Energy Research and Development Authority OSHA Occupation Safety and Health Administration WHO World Health Organization i Acknowledgements I would like to recognize many contributors along the way that have helped to develop this report, and better our understanding of wind turbine noise. First I would like to thank Emily Starr, an intern previously of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the initial background literature review that was done, enabling me to have a starting place for my review. I would also like to thank Patricia Fritz of the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for the access to many of the articles needed to conduct this literature review, and for her collaboration on how to relay the information. I would like to also recognize all of the individuals that were involved in this report’s final review process including Gregory Lampman of NYSERDA, Patricia Fritz of NYSDOH, Dan Driscoll of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (retired), and Jennifer Helmick of Eastern Research Group. ii Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations List ................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ iv Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 1 Key Points ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 1 What is Sound and How Is It Measured? .............................................................................................. 3 1.1 Sound Pressure ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Frequency ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Decibel Weighting Scales ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Sound Propagation ....................................................................................................................... 5 2 Current Research on Sound from Wind Turbines ................................................................................. 8 2.1 What Types of Sounds Do Wind Turbines Emit? .......................................................................... 8 2.2 What Sound Levels Have Been Measured From Wind Turbines? ............................................... 8 2.2.1 Audible Sound Levels from Wind Farms ............................................................................... 8 2.2.2 Infrasound and Low Frequency Sound Levels from Wind Turbines ..................................... 9 2.2.3 Worst-Case Scenario .......................................................................................................... 10 2.2.4 Sound in Outdoor versus Indoor Environments .................................................................. 11 2.2.5 Number and Size of Turbines ............................................................................................. 11 3 Current State of Research on Health Effects from Wind Turbine Noise ............................................. 12 3.1 Annoyance .................................................................................................................................. 12 3.2 Sleep Disturbance ....................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Other Health Effects .................................................................................................................... 14 4 Policy Relevant Noise Assessments ................................................................................................... 16 4.1 International Assessment of Environmental Noise Health Effects .............................................. 16 4.2 US EPA’s Environmental Noise Levels Document ..................................................................... 16 4.3 Massachusetts Health Impact Assessment Review ................................................................... 17 5 Limitations of Current Research.......................................................................................................... 18 6 Future Research Needs ...................................................................................................................... 19 7 Literature Reviewed ............................................................................................................................ 20 iii List of Figures Figure 1 Key Points ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Decibel Weighting Scales .............................................................................................................. 4 Figure 3. Attenuation by Distance ................................................................................................................. 5 Figure 4. Frequency Attenuation ................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 5. Wind Attenuation of Sound ............................................................................................................ 6 Figure 6. Considerations