Turbine noise has no impact on health
Once again, science has disproved one of Donald Trump’s claims against wind turbines, this time the accusation that the noise they create causes cancer.
New research, commissioned by the Finnish government and led by the VTT technical research centre, found no evidence for wind-turbine infrasound — low-frequency noise, generally below the lower limit of audibility — impacting human health at all.
During a ten-month listening campaign, researchers recorded the most obtrusive periods of infrasound created by two Finnish wind farms.
They then played these samples to two study groups comprising people living near wind farms: one whose members had reported suffering problems they associated with wind turbines’ infrasound, and the other featuring those who had never logged any symptoms.
Reported symptoms included arrhythmias, headaches and dizziness.
Under test conditions, participants in both groups were unable to make out infrasonic frequencies in wind-turbine noise, VTT said. The presence of infrasound made no difference to how annoying the participants perceived the noise to be, and their autonomous nervous system did not respond to it.
The researchers added that they found no evidence of health impacts caused by wind farms’ infrasound, and suggested that information based on sound scientific research should be made public.
They also suggested that the media and politicians should not make unfounded claims about adverse health effects, as doing so "increases anxiety and symptoms".
Wooden tower installed in Sweden
Swedish manufacturer Modvion has installed a prototype wooden tower it aims to scale up fivefold by 2022.
Modvion argues using wood would have a smaller carbon print during manufacturing, and suggests that the installed tower can store carbon dioxide. It says the tower’s laminated wood is stronger than steel at the same weight, while its modular design allows for greater height.
The 30-metre prototype will undergo testing at a site in southern Sweden, but Modvion already has agreements in place to install 110- and 150-metre towers in 2022.
Global LCoE figures and facts
85% Share of total energy generation in locations where renewables are cheapest new-build energy source
$111/MWh LCoE for offshore wind projects financed in H2 2019
$44/MWh Onshore price in the same period
9% Reduction in LCoE for onshore wind projects reaching financial close between H2 2019 and H1 2020
$24/MWh Lowest price for onshore wind financed in H1 2020, achieved by best-in-class Brazilian projects
Source: BloombergNEF
Quote of the month
"We are persisting with some of the worst turbines on some of the best wind sites"
Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope, on why repowering can help meet the goals of the European Green Deal
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