Wind Farm Noise Guideline 2011 CONTROL PAGE NOISE MEASUREMENT SERVICES PTY LTD 18 Lade Street Enoggera Qld 4051 Telephone: (7) 3355 9707 PO Box 2127 Facsimile: (7) 3355 7210 Brookside Centre, QLD 4053 E-mail: [email protected] ABN 70 084 648 023 Revision No Issue Date Revision Description Checked By Issued By 0-3 2010, 2011 2010Guides superceded MT BT January 2011 superceded March 2011 March 2011 Revised and updated as ‘2011’ Reviewers BT Approved for Release Bob Thorne DISCLAIMER The Guideline presents only the information that Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd believes, in its professional opinion, is relevant and necessary to describe the issues involved. While the Guideline has been prepared with care, it contains general information and does not profess to offer legal, professional or commercial advice. Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd accepts no liability for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of this document. Persons should satisfy themselves independently and by consulting their own professional advisors before embarking on any proposed course of action. The Guideline has been peer-reviewed. Critique from persons having researched conclusions different from the author will be considered when such critique is supported by evidence researched by the person presenting the critique and supported by a statement of qualifications and experience. Copyright 2011 © All rights reserved. Copyright of the Guideline and the physical devices or software described belong to Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd. The intellectual property of this Guideline remains with Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd. 2 Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd Wind Farm Noise Guideline March 2011 PREAMBLE In the past 10 years more interest has been shown in renewable enrgy and the development of wind farms. Wind farms are now causing concerns regarding noise, especially from those residents immediately near to the turbines. In this regard, the Board of Inquiry into the proposed Turitea (New Zealand) wind farm is important as it is the outcome of nearly two years’ deliberations. The Board, in its draft decision of February 2011, says: Creating an environment where wind farm noise will be clearly noticeable at times of quiet background sound levels is not an option the Board condones, especially where large numbers of residents are affected. It is the Board’s view that energy operations in New Zealand will have to learn not to place wind farms so close to residential communities if they are not prepared to accept constraints on noise limits under such conditions. The decision highlights the duty of care that decision-makers, developers, acoustical consultants and regulatory authorites have to themselves and potentially affected communities. This Guideline provides impartial information for a wind farm noise risk analysis of reasonable / unreasonable noise and serious adverse effect / serious harm to health and measures to avoid, remedy or mitigate such noise. 3 Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd Wind Farm Noise Guideline March 2011 CONTENTS PART I - INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................6 PART II - THE PROBLEMS WITH RURAL WIND FARMS .........................................................................8 Inappropriate Land-use Planning..............................................................................................................8 The Problems with Wind Farm Noise and Its Perception .......................................................................9 PART III - A CASE STUDY ........................................................................................................................11 A Rural Wind Farm...................................................................................................................................11 Prediction of Wind Farm Sound Levels..................................................................................................12 Case study with a Waubra residence......................................................................................................12 Background sound levels ........................................................................................................................14 The Effects of Weather .............................................................................................................................16 Audible sound character..........................................................................................................................16 Sound character at residence and near locale ......................................................................................18 Conclusions from Waubra Case Study...................................................................................................28 PART IV - WIND FARMS AND HEALTH EFFECTS .................................................................................29 Epidemiology and health risks ................................................................................................................32 PART V - WIND TURBINE SOUND ...........................................................................................................37 Basic Measures .........................................................................................................................................37 Wind Farm Noise.......................................................................................................................................38 Low frequency sound and Infrasound....................................................................................................44 Heightened Noise Zones ..........................................................................................................................47 PART VI - PREDICTION OF SOUND LEVELS – APPROACHES AND LIMITATIONS...........................52 Consideration of Variable Wind Conditions...........................................................................................54 Wind Farm Noise` Standards...................................................................................................................56 4 Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd Wind Farm Noise Guideline March 2011 Prediction of Sound Variation at a Receiver ..........................................................................................57 PART VII - RESPONSES OF RESIDENTS NEAR WIND FARMS............................................................59 Community and Individual Noise Exposure...........................................................................................59 The Effects on People near the Waubra Wind Farm, Victoria ..............................................................60 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................61 The Effects on People near the “West Wind’ wind farm, New Zealand...............................................65 The Effects on People near the ‘Te Rere Hau’ Wind Farm, New Zealand ...........................................71 Real-world noise compliance problem at a wind farm..........................................................................75 The Effects on People near the proposed Turitea Wind Farm, New Zealand.....................................76 PART VIII - INDIVIDUALS’ PERCEPTION OF WIND FARM SOUNDS....................................................78 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................78 The Manawatu – Brisbane Pilot Study....................................................................................................78 A Study of Noise Sensitivity vs. Specific Sounds .................................................................................81 Noise Annoyance ......................................................................................................................................82 Makara and Waubra studies into adverse health effects......................................................................84 Community perception and acceptance of wind farms ........................................................................85 PART IX - ANNOYANCE, AUDIBILITY, LOW AND INFRASOUND PERCEPTION ................................86 Amenity and costs imposed by rural wind farms..................................................................................88 Sound Perception .....................................................................................................................................89 Annoyance.................................................................................................................................................91 Audibility – Low frequency - Infrasound ................................................................................................94 PART X - MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS .....................................................................................................99 PART XI - GLOSSARY.............................................................................................................................104 PART XII - RECOMMENDED READING .................................................................................................110 5 Noise Measurement Services Pty Ltd Wind Farm Noise Guideline March 2011 PART