The Multiple Facets of this Subject, Challenges and Latest Advances
Noise is one of the environmental impacts of a wind farm that requires attention, and can in some cases represent a key constraint on the farm’s operation. Regulation and therefore control of this noise has tended to focus on the level or ‘loudness’ of the noise, which is challenging in itself to measure. But recently increasing attention has been given to features in the noise (in other words its character). Objective measures of these aspects have been developed but they still require careful and time-consuming analysis. Advances in the capabilities of sound measuring equipment are, however, helping practitioners and wind farm operators to obtain results more directly.
By Matthew Cand, Executive Acoustic Engineer, Hoare Lea Acoustics, UK