How Do Residents Experience Wind Turbine Noise? The Results of a Two-Year Study 

Noise from wind turbines is often a significant concern for nearby residents. To better understand the actual impact of wind turbine noise, an interactive app was utilized across several wind projects, allowing residents to easily report their real-time experiences with turbine noise.

One such project involves 26 wind turbines in the Netherlands, grouped into three geographically separated clusters, spread over a 26-kilometre stretch along a busy motorway. For two years, starting from the turbines’ initial operation, residents could report noise-related annoyance on a 7-point scale at any time, day or night. For this project, high annoyance – defined as the top two levels on a 7-point annoyance scale – was most frequently reported during wind speeds of 8 to 13 m/s at hub height, at distances of less than 1,000 metres from the turbines, and when the wind blew towards the motorway, reducing background noise and making the turbines more noticeable. Also, high annoyance was most frequently reported during the late evening and at the start and end of the night, highlighting the influence of quieter periods on perceived annoyance.

The annoyance patterns observed for the 26-turbine project were compared with data from other wind farms where the app was implemented, offering a broader perspective. This comparison revealed significant variability in annoyance patterns across different wind farms. Although no clear seasonal trend was identified, over two years, four out of six wind farms using the interactive app showed above-average high annoyance levels in April, August, and September. The lack of a seasonal trend underscores the complexity of annoyance, which is shaped by factors such as weather, environmental conditions, and turbine operations rather than predictable seasonal patterns. These factors vary per location, emphasizing the importance of site-specific analysis.

Daily annoyance patterns were more consistent across wind farms than monthly patterns. Most wind farms showed peaks in high annoyance levels between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., as well as between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., corresponding to the end of the evening and the start and end of the night. While some reports submitted at the end of the night may reflect delayed responses to earlier annoyance, the findings suggest that annoyance intensifies during quieter periods when background noise is reduced.

Overall, the results highlight the importance of accounting for time-dependent factors and local environmental conditions when developing noise mitigation strategies for wind farms. Understanding the interaction between turbine noise, background noise, and specific conditions is crucial to minimize annoyance for nearby residents.

Erik Koppen, Madelon Ekelschot-Smink and Jaap Boon
Arcadis Nederland, Arnhem, Gelderland, the Netherlands

11th International Conference on Wind Turbine Noise, Copenhagen, Denmark – 10th to 13th June 2025

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