A Review of the Potential Impacts of Wind Turbine Noise in the Australian Context
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REVIEW PAPER
A Review of the Potential Impacts of Wind Turbine Noise in the Australian Context John Laurence Davy1,2 · Kym Burgemeister3 · David Hillman4 · Simon Carlile5,6 Received: 20 January 2020 / Accepted: 18 June 2020 © Australian Acoustical Society 2020
Abstract This manuscript describes a range of technical deliberations undertaken by the authors during their work as members of the Australian Government’s Independent Scientific Committee on Wind Turbines. Central to these deliberations was the requirement upon the committee to improve understanding and monitoring of the potential impacts of sound from wind turbines (including low frequency and infrasound) on health and the environment. The paper examines existing wind turbine sound limits, possible perceptual and physiological effects of wind turbine noise, aspects of the effects of wind turbine sound on sleep health and quality of life, low-frequency noise limits, the concept of annoyance including alternative causes of it and the potential for it to be affected by low-frequency noise, the influence of amplitude modulation and tonality, sound measurement and analysis and management strategies. In so doing it provides an objective basis for harmonisation across Australia of provisions for siting and monitoring of wind turbines, which currently vary from state to state, contributing to contention and potential inequities between Australians, depending on their place of residence. Keywords Wind turbines · Wind farms · Noise · Annoyance · Health · Sleep
1 Introduction
* John Laurence Davy [email protected] Kym Burgemeister [email protected] David Hillman [email protected] Simon Carlile [email protected] 1
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
2
Infrastructure Technologies, CSIRO, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia
3
Arup, Sky Park, One Melbourne Quarter, 699 Collins Street, Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia
4
Centre for Sleep Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
5
Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
6
[X] The Moonshot Factory, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
While renewable energy from wind turbines can have a positive environmental impact, wind turbines can also be visually imposing and are a source of audible sound and infrasound. If turbines are placed near to where people live, the wind turbine sound can potentially be loud enough to be a source of disturbance, potentially adversely affecting wakeful activities and/or sleep with resulting irritability, negativity and cognitive disturbance. It is held by some people that the audible sound and infrasound may also have more specific effects on health and well-being, including potential effects on non-auditory function of the inner ear [1]. Furthermore, the visual impact of wind turbines may cause individual concern, both in terms of their appearance and, in some cases, shadow flicker. Added to these concerns, individuals may develop ne
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