WIND Power Noise Systematically Misjudged in Sweden

This paper outlines a numerical study of measurement faults in regard to wind power turbines in Sweden. For this purpose, 17 reports of noise level from wind power stations, with between one (1) and 32 turbines, were examined. Parallell studies on the noise level were performed with analytic methods. Technically the noise level was undervalued by more than 2 dB(A). The dampening effect of the wind shield was generally not taken into account, neither the distance between the rear side of the turbine and the turbine itself, nor an incorrect distance between the microphone and the measurement plate. In some cases, snow on the ground absorbed noise which gave incorrect measurement and faulty results. Accuracy was not taken into account in any of the 17 cases of measurement, which in turn decreased the noise levels, by another 2 dB(A). In summary the wind power noise levels were suppressed by about 5 dB(A) for the wind power stations analyzed in Sweden. The study results in a differentiated model as compared to the required rule in IEC64100-11. The project was carried out between the years 2011 and 2019.