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STRUCTURES DATA SHEET 15Wind Farm Environmental Assessment

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Testconsult LtdRuby House, 40a Hardwick GrangeWarrington WA1 4RFTel: +44 1925 286880 Fax: +44 1925 286881Email:simon@testconsult.co.ukWeb Site: www.testconsult.co.uk

Testconsult Ireland LtdMaterials Laboratory, Clonminam Ind EstPortlaoise, Co Laois, IrelandTel: +353 502 64885 Fax: +353 502 64380Email: tom@testconsult.ieWeb Site: www.testconsult.co.uk

Assessment of the possible noiseimpact of proposed Wind Farm sites is

an important factor when consideringenvironmental pollution, public healthand amenity value of dwellings closeto the site.

During the planning stage of a wind farm,discussions are likely to be held with the localEnvironmental Health Officer with respect toagreeing acceptable levels of noise from theproposed site. The performance of abackground noise survey around the site will

help identify the dwellings that are mostsensitive with respect to noise and the windspeed at which the greatest noise impact fromthe development will occur.

The prevailing background noise level at sensitive dwellings will need to be agreed with the local EHO sothat noise limits at different turbine operating wind speeds can be set. Predictions are then undertakenand changes made to the proposed wind turbine layout, where necessary, to ensure that the noise limitsthat have been set can be achieved.

Noise assessment will be in accordance with the recommendations set out in Section 7 of DTI ReportETSU-R-97 – The Assessment & Rating of Noise from Wind Farms.

Monitoring Locations

Monitoring will be undertaken at the location to which thenoise limits apply; this will generally be the properties inthe vicinity of the proposed wind farm.

The measuring equipment used for the survey will consist ofan integrating-averaging sound level meter conforming totype 2 or better of BS EN 60804 and BS EN 60651. Thesound level meter will be tripod mounted at a height of 1.2– 1.5m above ground (in accordance with BS 4142: 1997)and at least 10m from a building façade. Wind shieldsshould be fitted to avoid contamination by the effect ofwind. 

Background Noise Survey

Proposed limits of environmental noise are set in relation to the existing background noise levels at windspeeds up to 12 m/sec. It is therefore necessary to correlate background noise measurements with windspeed measurements performed at the proposed site, such that the actual operating noise levels from theturbines may be compared with the noise levels that would otherwise be experienced at the dwelling.

Rural Wind Farm – near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion

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