At the end of January 2013, I announced that my Department was initiating an update of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, specifically the guidance therein on noise (including separation distance) and shadow flicker. As the starting point in this process, submissions were invited as part of a preliminary public consultation process.
540 submissions were subsequently received from private individuals, the wind industry, professional institutes and local authorities. The submissions received were recorded by recipient only as not all submissions were county specific so it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the numbers involved at county level.
Generally, the industry submissions indicated relatively satisfaction with the 2006 Guidelines. However, the submissions from private individuals sought more specific and stringent revisions of the 2006 Guidelines in relation to noise control measures and the prevention of shadow flicker.
Three noise related topics were identified as discussion points in the submissions:
- Setbacks;
- A-weighted noise levels;
- Special audible characteristics.
Setbacks
A significant number of submissions supported the insertion of a mandatory setback distance and where distances were mentioned, they were generally significantly higher than the 500 metres separation distance referenced in the 2006 Guidelines. Some submissions also suggested that the setback distance should be proportional to turbine size - for example, a separation distance equating to a certain number of rotor blade diameters or multiples of the turbine blade tip height.
Industry submissions were commonly opposed to setting mandatory setbacks, suggesting that they did not provide a means of control which was directly linked to actual noise levels. These submissions also expressed concern that mandatory setbacks at relatively high levels would prohibit the location of wind farms which were otherwise acceptable from the perspective of noise generated at dwellings or other noise sensitive locations. Some industry submissions also stated that setting a fixed mandatory distance would not account for changes in the size or sound generation levels of turbines.
A-weighted noise levels
The suitability of A-weighted noise limits such as the nominal 43 dB(A) night-time noise limit applied under the UK wind farm noise standards ETSU-R-97 was mentioned in some submissions. In some cases, it was suggested that the A-weighted noise limits did not provide sufficient emphasis on low frequency noise. In other cases, it was suggested that the existing 43 dB(A) limit was inconsistent with recent changes in World Health Organisation Europe’s recommended indoor noise levels.
Special audible characteristics
Infrasound and low frequency noise were mentioned in some submissions where the emphasis was on amenity and the possible health impacts which could arise from these types of sound. The general point was that the 2006 Guidelines did not take these types of sound into account.
Other Issues
The possibility of negative health impacts from wind farms, relating mainly to noise but also the effects of shadow flicker, was a further issue of concern raised in a number of the submissions. Other issues raised included the perceived deficiencies in the process of assessment of planning applications for wind farms by planning authorities, noise measurement, the lack of information available to the public about proposed wind energy developments, and the lack of adequate public consultation by wind farm developers.
