On Certain Problems Concerning Environmental Impact Assessment of Wind Turbines in Scope of Acoustic Effects

T. Wszołek, M. Kłaczyński, D. Mleczko and A. Ozga AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

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The paper deals with difficulties that are encountered by investors and decision-making authorities in the course of investment processes involving construction of wind power plants. Moreover, attention is focused on absence of standardized procedures that could be used to determine environmental impact of wind turbines, mainly in the scope of acoustic effects appearing in conditions typical for operation of such devices (strong wind), high elevation of related noise sources, and the nature of the sound emission (tonality and amplitude modulation). Lack of such procedures is a source of serious ambiguities developing in assessment of all investment stages - planning and forecasting, construction, and operation. An additional problem arises in the case of power plants located in the vicinity of Natura 2000 area, where construction projects are often obstructed on the grounds of unclear criteria concerning, among other things, the effect of acoustic phenomena on birds, bats, and other animals. It follows from the research presented in this paper that the consistent system of procedures and criteria should be worked out on the grounds of long-term monitoring studies.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.125.A-38 PACS numbers: 43.58.+z, 43.66.Lj, 87.50.Y-