May 21, 2013
Noise, Ontario, Regulations

Weaver Residence Wind Turbine Noise Assessment

Kouwen, Nicholas

This report outlines the findings of an informal wind turbine noise assessment at the Weaver residence at 7624 Wellington Road 12 just south of Arthur, ON, February‐March 2013.

The Weaver property abuts the 22.92 MW Conestogo Wind Farm in Mapleton Township near Arthur, ON. The wind farm consists of 9 Siemens AG2.3 MW IWT’s and 1 Siemens AG 2.221 MW wind turbine. A location diagram is located in Appendix A. The Weaver residence is shown as receptor 65 where the “worst case” IWT sound levels were predicted to be 39.2 dBA by the proponent.

The investigation suggests that the IWT generated noise does not comply with the MOE noise guidelines ~50% of the time and that SPLs are above the predicted “worst case” ~59% of the time.

A journal of the quality of life and health problems experienced by the occupants of the home is attached as Appendix B.

Methodology

The equipment and methodology for the study is the same as that described in detail in my Grey Highlands 2012 Wind Turbine Noise Survey [1].

In the following part of the report, the results are paired for the two sites shown in Figures 1 & 2. Figure 1 shows the microphone location at the Weaver residence and Figure 2 shows the microphone location as a similar background site, approximately 10 km from the nearest IWT.

There are four separate comparisons:

  1. The time series of the A weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) (dBA) along with the 10m wind speed in m/s and wind direction as well as ground wind speed.

  2. The A weighted SPL (dBA) covering all data versus 10 m wind speed.

  3. The A weighted SPL (dBA) versus 10 m wind speed for night time 1‐5 am only.

  4. The L50 versus 10m wind speed. Unweighted SPLs (dBZ) are also plotted.

In the following report, the MOE noise limits are those in NPC‐232 “Sound level limits for stationary sources in Class 1 & 2 Areas (Rural)”

When referring to the MOE protocol for determining compliance NPC‐103 “Compliance Protocol for Wind Turbine Noise” the methodology in this protocol is noted but is replaced by the more objective and workable approach adopted herein.

Download original document: “Weaver Residence Wind Turbine Noise Assessment [2]”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/weaver-residence-wind-turbine-noise-assessment/

URLs in this post:

[1] Grey Highlands 2012 Wind Turbine Noise Survey: https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/grey-highlands-2012-wind-turbine-noise-survey/

[2] Weaver Residence Wind Turbine Noise Assessment: https://docs.wind-watch.org/weaver_noise_report-may-2013.pdf