VIRTSU JA ESIVERE-RÕUSTE-TOOMA PIIRKONNA TUULEPARKIDE MÜRATASE
Noise level in wind farms in Virtsu and Esivere-Rõuste-Tooma area
Triin Veber MSc, Keito Sada, Liis Hainla Abstract Producing wind energy is not entirely free of impact on human health, because it produces some level of noise. The present study used real acoustic measurements to evaluate the noise level emission of the Esivere-Rõuste-Tooma and Virtsu area wind farms at several wind speed values and distances from the wind farm. These measurements were also compared with Estonian noise regulation. Wind speed 4–5 m/s in Esivere-Rõuste-Tooma area causes a noise level up to 28.3 dB(A) measured at 200 m from the nearest turbine. Wind speed 13–14 m/s causes noise level up to 54.9 dB(A) in Esivere-Rõuste-Tooma area and up to 53.9 in Virtsu area when measured at 300 meters from the nearest turbine. The results show that wind farms are relatively low noise emission sources compared to other industrial units or traffic noise, as the daily noise standard at a distance of 300 m away is not exceeded in measured wind farms even at highest wind speeds. Key words: wind farms, noise level, noise standard, health effects of wind turbines Sissejuhatus Tuulegeneraatorid on oluline taastuvenergia tootmise võimalus ja nende kasutamine kogu maailmas kasvab (Renner jt 2008). Eestis on tuul kõige suurema potentsiaaliga taastuvenergia allikas (Taastuvenergia … 2012). Tuulikute püstitamine tekitab aga küsimusi elanike hulgas. Meedias 369
