PRESENTATION on WIND TURBINE AM by Geoffrey Weller I Am a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
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PRESENTATION ON WIND TURBINE AM by Geoffrey Weller I am a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Much of my career was devoted to developing electronic protection schemes for electrical power systems. This included analysis of noisy electrical signals using digital signal processing, for instance with fast Fourier transforms. I have experience of amplitude modulation of radio-frequency signals. Introduction My evidence shows that ETSU-R-97 is failing to protect windfarm neighbours from Amplitude Modulation, the most distressing characteristic of wind turbine noise. ETSU-R-97 is used throughout the UK to assess wind farm noise in planning applications. As it has been embedded into government policy, it is probably futile to insist that ETSU is wrong. However, I do assert that additional protection for AM is needed for windfarm neighbours where the AM exceeds the maximum level quoted in ETSU. This presentation will summarise some of my Proof of Evidence, mention some events that occurred since I submitted it, and amplify the conclusions I drew previously. What is AM? To demonstrate the character of AM, I would like to play two audio files located at the following web URLs i) https://dl.dropbox.com/u/51620331/Swish_to_Thump.mp3 Source: Dick Bowdler FIOA Noise Consultant http://www.dickbowdler.co.uk/content/publications/ ii) https://dl.dropbox.com/u/51620331/file0895_hi_lo_17dbeq_16b.mp3 Source: Recordings of Nature website. There are actually two separate recordings in this file. Proof of Evidence An important source of evidence is the DTI-commissioned 2006 Hayes McKenzie Partnership report The Measurement of Low Frequency Noise at Three UK Wind Farms which noted that Aerodynamic Modulation was occurring in ways not anticipated by ETSU-R-97 (ETSU). The authors of the report recommended as follows: […] the presence of aerodynamic modulation which is greater than that originally foreseen by the authors of ETSU-R-97, particularly during the night hours, can result in internal wind farm noise levels which are audible and which may provoke an adverse reaction from a listener. This may take the form of increased time in returning to sleep for an occupant although noise associated with the wind farms was not found to awaken the occupant. To take account of periods when aerodynamic modulation is a clearly audible feature within the incident zone, it is recommended that a means to assess and apply a correction to the incident noise is developed… The authors of this report found (page 64) that even when the overall noise level inside a bedroom was less than the sleep disturbance threshold proposed in the WHO guidelines, the acoustic nature of the AM sound attracted the attention of the listener and caused difficulty in returning to sleep. Page 1 of 7 Geoff Weller WINDFARM PLANNING PRESENTATION.doc 14 October 2013 Recent and Forthcoming Papers Wind turbine AM continues to dominate technical discussion for onshore wind turbines. From 5th International Conference on Wind Turbine Noise Denver 28-30 August 2013 Audible amplitude modulation - results of field measurements and investigations compared to psychoacoustical assessment and theoretical research Mike Stigwood, Sarah Large and Duncan Stigwood, MAS Environmental Ltd, UK http://www.masenv.co.uk/uploads/WTN13_Stigwood.pdf In the UK denial continues that AM is other than rare with reliance placed on a 2007 report prepared for Defra by the University of Salford which found low incidence of AM (Moorhouse et al, 2007). Re-analysis of the Salford data confirms many cases were missed (van den Berg, 2009). We and other independent researchers (Hoare, 2009) have also found that the Salford report understated incidence of AM. In the UK we have now identified at least seventy UK wind farms where it is known that AM is the cause of complaints. [...] as turbine hub heights have increased, incidence and complaints of AM have risen. Few regulators and decision makers visit wind farms under the conditions likely to give rise to enhanced AM, leading to a risk of ill-informed decisions. A table is appended reproducing a page of the MAS Environmental website. The table, updated in May 2013, lists 68 wind farms generating AM which MAS are aware of due to written evidence. Reference http://www.masenv.co.uk/Operational_Wind_Farms#item142. This adds to the body of evidence showing that AM is not rare. From the Renewable UK Annual Conference Birmingham 5-7 November 2013 http://www.renewableuk.com/en/events/conferences-and-exhibitions/renewableuk- 2013/programme/day-2.cfm#b9 Only 3 papers will be presented on technical issues (Session B8), all of them devoted to AM noise of Onshore Wind Turbines. Official abstracts follow: RenewableUK AM Research Project – Overview of Phase 1 Research Findings. The amplitude modulation (AM) of aerodynamic blade noise from wind turbines is always detected close to a rotating wind turbine. Such noise is commonly described as ‘blade swish’. However, on some wind farm sites AM has been reported that is subjectively different to ‘normal’ swish, with annoyance being reported in some cases due to the noise developing more of a ‘thump’ character. This presentation is [...] sponsored by RenewableUK specifically aimed at identifying the causes of this ‘other’ type of AM noise and the subjective consequences of such noise. Andrew Bullmore, Partner, Hoare Lea Acoustics. Affective Response to Amplitude Modulated Wind Turbine Sound The amplitude modulated sound character is frequently mentioned in the context of annoyance from wind turbines. While there are still questions about the source mechanisms and characterisation of amplitude modulation one of the most under-researched areas is the response of listeners to this type of sound. This paper will present results from listening tests conducted in a controlled environment during a comprehensive study on amplitude modulation. Funded by RenewableUK. Dr Sabine Von-Hunerbein, University of Salford. Mechanisms and Causes of Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Other Amplitude Modulation (OAM) of Aeroacoustic Wind Turbine Noise. The results of a work investigating the mechanisms and causes of amplitude modulation (AM) of aeroacoustic noise from wind turbine rotors and specially the occurrence of lower frequency amplitude modulation named (OAM) are presented. Helge Aagaard Madsen, Research Specialist, DTU Wind Energy Page 2 of 7 Geoff Weller WINDFARM PLANNING PRESENTATION.doc 14 October 2013 ETSU-R-97 ETSU sets out the level of AM that was assumed in setting the noise limits: This modulation of blade noise may result in a variation of the overall A-weighted noise level by as much as 3dB(A) (peak to trough) when measured close to a wind turbine. As distance from the wind turbine/wind farm increases, this depth of modulation would be expected to decrease as atmospheric absorption attenuates the high frequency energy radiated by the blade. It is clear that ‘as much as’ indicates the maximum level of AM that was envisaged in the setting of overall noise limits, and cannot be interpreted as meaning a typical or indicative value. It is clear that lower levels were expected at increased distance from the turbine, such as at a neighbouring property. ETSU says: The noise levels recommended in this report take into account the character of noise described in Chapter 3 as blade swish. Given that all wind turbines exhibit blade swish to a certain extent we feel this is a more common-sense approach given the current level of knowledge. Statutory Nuisance In the absence of national standards regulating the maximum immissions of AM, it is often suggested that any neighbourhood noise problems can be dealt with using the Statutory Nuisance complaint procedure (Environmental Protection Act 1990), usually via the Local Authority. To this effect, a 127-page report detailing a complete Wind Farm Noise Statutory Nuisance Complaint Methodology has been produced for DEFRA. Reference https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-wind-farm-noise-complaints The document says this about AM: Amplitude Modulation of Aerodynamic Noise (AM) The sound level from turbine blades is often not completely steady, but is modulated (fluctuates) in a cycle of increased and then reduced level, sometimes called ―blade swish, typically occurring at a rate of around once or twice per second. In the majority of installations the modulation depth may be up to 2-3 dBA, which was regarded as being acceptable by the ETSU working group. In some situations, however, the modulation depth increases to the point where it can become more pronounced and potentially give rise to increased annoyance. This phenomenon is known as amplitude modulation of aerodynamic noise or more succinctly by the acronym AM. Experience in the UK has shown that obtaining redress from AM nuisance for local residents is extremely difficult and only possible following a lengthy, risky and expensive legal process. Solicitors say that in practice the Local Authority often does not act, or has its actions delayed by protracted appeals. The defence of ‘best practicable means’ is often available to the opponent. Reference http://www.richardbuxton.co.uk/v3.0/node/18. There is always a difficulty in proving that a noise nuisance exists – the noise may last many nights in succession, causing cumulative sleep deprivation, then disappear entirely for a while. Page 3 of 7 Geoff Weller WINDFARM PLANNING PRESENTATION.doc 14 October 2013 Control to avoid Statutory Nuisance Claims In view of the evidence I have produced, there is an unacceptable risk of foreseeable harm in allowing the level of AM to be uncontrolled. A precautionary approach requiring a planning condition controlling the level of AM would be an advantage for both the developer and the neighbour. For the developer, it would be a defence against noise complaints made by persons who are ‘unduly sensitive’ to noise. For the neighbour, it would provide a means of proving excessive noise if such exist.