Wind turbine noise is a key consideration in wind farm development and its management in Australia follows strict standards and guidelines.
A typical modern wind turbine generates noise levels of around 45-55 decibels (dB) at a distance of 300-500 metres.
At distances typical to the nearest dwellings in the vicinity of wind farms (i.e. 1-2 km), wind turbine noise levels tend to be around 30-40 dB on average, depending on the wind farm.
For comparison, in rural environments, background noise levels would typically be measured around 20-40 dB during the evening and night periods.
The perception of noise is subjective and varies between individuals. For wind farm noise, it is dependent on a range of factors, including distance to the wind farm and the background noise environment.
Turbines produce two types of noise:
- Mechanical noise: From internal machinery such as the gearbox and generator.
- Aerodynamic noise: Caused by the blades moving through the air, which is the primary source of noise.
