Ongoing confirmation of an objective criterion predicting annoyance linked to wind turbines

Abstract

The 2023 CAA Acoustics Week in Canada introduced a criterion based on an objective acoustic measure to predict annoyance subjectively identified by residents living in the vicinity of wind turbines. That evidence was gathered primarily at a site near constant speed, stall regulated wind turbines. This paper presents subsequent investigations confirming that the criterion is also effective at a site with variable speed pitch regulated wind turbines. The results arise from the analysis of over 400 days of sampling at a site 787 m from the nearest wind turbine, with 18 turbines within 3 km. Verification of the study data was shown by comparison to data collected by an acoustic contractor employed by the provincial Ministry of the Environment. That data was collected through over 70 recording periods to analyze times residents at the site identified annoyance during a Ministry audit. These samples were obtained through a Freedom of Information request purchase. Analysis of the samples confirms the annoyance criterion identified at the CAA 2023 conference applies also for a different turbine type to objectively predict the annoyance subjectively identified by residents. The implications of this confirmation will be discussed.