Hot topics in noise: Wind turbines

Abstract

Since 2000, the installed capacity of wind energy in the U.S. increased seventeen-fold, with the greatest increases in recent years. Today, we commonly find terrestrial wind farms with individual towers of 80–100 m and rotor diameters up to 112 m. The number of wind farms is projected to increase, as many states are adopting renewable energy portfolio standards in an effort to help combat climate change. As wind farms grow, there are inevitably more potential conflicts related to the impacts of the noise generated by the turbines. Noise has taken center stage in both proceedings for proposed wind farms and complaints from some operating wind farms. This talk will review the major issues regarding wind turbine noise, including sound emissions, sound propagation and modeling, sound monitoring, human perception, and regulation. Areas of controversy will be explored, including infrasound and low frequency sound, amplitude modulation, and health impacts.