Modelling the uncertainties of wind farm noise predictions

Abstract

Representative predictions of wind turbine noise require to accurately model the main mechanisms and characteristics of acoustic emission (i.e., extended sound source with aeroacoustic noise generation) and acoustic propagation in outdoor environment (i.e., ground effects and atmospheric properties). As these phenomena fluctuate over time and space, it leads to great uncertainty on Sound Pressure Level (SPL) estimated at local resident bulidings/facades. Such uncertainty is not yet properly quantified by engineering noise prediction models. Thus, this paper presents a modeling tool developed in the framework of the French project PIBE, which aims at quantifying the SPL uncertainty involved in wind farm noise predictions. Ultimately, this modeling tool will be freely available online and will help to better understand the risk of noise pollution at each stage of a wind farm's life, in order to guarantee compliance with the regulatory requirements concerning the exposure of local populations.