A Review of research into the human response to amplitude modulated wind turbine noise and development of a planning control method

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff was commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to undertake a review of research into the effects of and response to the acoustic character of wind turbine noise known as Amplitude Modulation (AM). More specifically the review dealt with the increased level of modulation of aerodynamic noise as perceived at neighbouring dwellings, with a view to providing protection where it is justified within the planning regime.This paper describes how the literature review was undertaken and the key findings from the review of those papers on the state of knowledge of AM, its effect on people, and the dose response relationships that exist. It goes on to highlight the gaps in the knowledge base, the risks of bias in the studies reviewed, and how those deficiencies can be overcome in the short term in the absence of a new dose response study. Also described are potential methods to control AM, an approach to quantifying the potential impact on energy yields during periods of control, the recommended method suggested to DECC, and how that condition may be written in accordance with UK Planning Policy.