As part of our ongoing research and interest in noise generated by wind turbines and wind farms we would be very interested to hear from anyone experiencing unusual or intrusive noise from wind developments.
Known Wind Farm sites causing or known to have caused complaints
At MAS Environmental we have currently measured unreasonable wind farm noise or been asked to investigate complaints of noise from wind farms at 13 developments including Bicker Fen, Blaen Bowi, Coldham, Darracott, Delabole, Fullabrook, Deeping St Nicholas, North Pickenham, Red Tile and Swaffham. The occurrence of AM is often noted by the industry as rare; the table below contains only wind farms generating AM of which MAS are aware due to written evidence. We understand there are many other cases. As can be seen from the table below, the occurrence of AM is not specific to turbine make, model, size, rated power or number of turbines.
Table updated September 2015
| Wind Farm | Location | MW per turbine | No. of turbines | Hub Height (m) | Reference |
| Aggregate Ind Newquay | Cornwall | 0.5MW | 1 | 59 | Audio examined |
| Alltwalis | Carmarthenshire | 2.3MW | 10 | 65 | Statement from complainant - clear case |
| Askham | Cumbria | 660kW | 7 | 40 | Salford - clear case added |
| Site B | Banff and Buchan | ANON | Confirmed AM by resident - anonymous at moment | ||
| Bears Down | Cornwall | 600kW | 16 | 30 | Salford - clear case added, recent complaints from residents |
| Bicker Fen | Lincolnshire | 2MW | 13 | 59 | Statement from complainant - clear case |
| Black Law, Forth | South Lanarkshire | 2.3MW | 42 | 82 | Reported by others |
| Blaen Bowi | Carmarthenshire | 1.3MW | 3 | 46 | Salford - clear case but not added |
| Carland Cross | Cornwall | 400kw | 15 | 30 | In ETSU-R-97 and Salford - now repowering and complaints received from residents |
| Cairnmore | Aberdeenshire | 850kW | 3 | 55 | Information on complaints is second hand |
| Carn Road | County Fermanagh (NI) | 250kw | 1 | 42 | Complaints from residents lodged with planning application to increase noise limits of original approval of turbine |
| Causeymire | Highland | 2.3MW | 21 | 60 | In Salford but not added by Salford |
| Coal Clough | Lancashire | 400kw | 24 | 30 | In ETSU-R-97 missed in Salford |
| Cold Northcott | Cornwall | 300kw | 22 | 25 | In ETSU-R-97 - in Salford but not added by them |
| Coldham | Cambridgeshire | 1.75MW | 8 | 60 | Statements from complainant matches AM |
| Conisholme | East Midlands | 800kW | 20 | 65 | Evidence from others |
| Cregan Gate | Cornwall | 50kW | 1 | 25 | Complaints from residents |
| Cotton Farm | East Anglia | 2MW | 8 | 80 | MAS have measured EAM |
| Cruach Mhor | Argyll & Bute | 850kw | 35 | 45 | Salford - but not added |
| Crystal Rig | Scottish Borders | 2.3MW | 51 + 9 | 60 + 80 | Evidence from others |
| Dalswinton | Dumfries | 2MW | 15 | 80 | Confirmed by the LA and affected resident |
| Darracott | Devon | 850kW | 3 | 50 | Complaints by residents of AM clearly ID AM |
| Deeping St Nicholas | Lincolnshire | 2MW | 8 | 59 | In Salford and added, MAS confirmed |
| Delabole | Cornwall | 2.3MW | 4 | 99 (tip) | Direct complaints and advice of acoustician |
| Site C / D / E | ANON | 64 | MAS have measured EAM | ||
| Site F | ANON | 275kW | 1 | 55 | MAS have measured EAM and significant tonality |
| Forestmoor, Bradworthy | Devon | 1MW | 3 | 48 | Evidence of others |
| Four Burrows | Cornwall | 300kW | 15 | 30 | In Salford - 'another' noise complained of |
| Fullabrook | Devon | 3MW | 22 | 65 | Complaints by many residents of AM, post Salford |
| Gedney Marsh (Red House) | Lincolnshire | 2MW | 6 | 59 |
Indirect evidence |
| Glens of Foundland | Aberdeenshire | 1.3MW | 20 | 46 | In Salford but not added |
| Glyndebourne | Lewes District | 850kW | 1 | 44 | Independent source - see also article in Private Eye No.1334 |
| Hadyard Hill | South Ayrshire | 2.5MW | 52 | 60-70 | In Salford, possible case, but no direct evidence |
| Hafoty Ucha | Gwynedd | 850kW | 1 | 39-44 | In Salford, questionable case, but no direct evidence |
| Harlock Hill | Cumbria | 500kW | 5 | 35 | In Salford, but no direct evidence |
| Hazlehead | Yorkshire | 2MW | 3 | 60 | Indirect complaints from residents - developer undertaking monitoring |
| High Volts | County Durham | 2750kW | 3 | 60 | Indirect evidence |
| Hill of Easterton | Aberdeenshire | 850kW | 3 | 45 | Indirect evidence / information |
| Kessingland | Suffolk | 2.05MW | 2 | 80 | Complaints and MAS measured, post Salford |
| Knabs Ridge | North Yorkshire | 2MW | 8 | 58 | Complaints and MAS measured - post Salford |
| Lissett | Yorkshire | 2.5MW | 12 | 80 | Controls introduced to reduce noise |
| Llandinam P&L | Wales | 0.3MW | 103 | 31 | In ETSU-R-97 |
| Llangwryfon | Ceredigion | 0.85MW | 11 | 40 | Indirect information - complaints from residents |
| Llyn Alaw | Anglesey | 600kW | 34 | 31 | In Salford and WAS added |
| Lowermoor Water Treatment Works | Cornwall | 100kW | 1 | 30 | Direct complaint from resident |
| Lynch Knoll | Gloucestershire | 500kW | 1 | 42 | In Salford but not added |
| Lynemouth | Northumberland | 2MW | 13 | 78 | Indirect evidence / information |
| Mablethorpe | Lincolnshire | 600kW | 2 | 65 | Indirect evidence |
| Michelin Tyre Factory | Dundee City | 2MW | 2 | 85 | In Salford but not added |
| Moel Maelogen | North Wales | 1.3MW | 9 | 50 | Indirect information, in Salford but not added |
| Mullavilly | County Armagh (NI) | 0.5MW | 1 | 27.5 | Complaints from residents in local paper |
| Mynydd Clogau | Powys | 850kW | 17 | 34 | In Salford, possible case, but no direct evidence |
| Mynydd Gorddu | Ceredigion | 0.5-0.6MW | 19 | 34-35m | Indirect information |
| Site N | ANON | 50kW | 1 | 23.6 | MAS have measured EAM and significant tonality |
| Neilston Community | East Renfrewshire | 2.3MW | 4 | 85 | Internal AM at residence measured by L Huson & Associates |
| Newstead | Cuminstown | 0.8MW | 1 | 49 | Multiple sources of evidence from residents |
| North Pickenham | Norfolk | 1.8MW | 8 | 80 | MAS measured - residents not complaining officially |
| North Rhins | Dumfries | 2MW | 11 | 60 | Indirect information |
| Parc Cynog | Carmarthenshire | 720-850kW | 5+6 | 60 | When extended in size |
| Paul's Hill | Moray | 2.3MW | 24 | 60 | AM confirmed by independent acoustician |
| Penrhyddlan & Llidiatywaun | Powys | 300kW | 103 | 45 | Noise problems noted in ETSU-R-97 |
| Red Tile / Warboys | Cambridgeshire | 2MW | 12 | 59 | MAS measured and complaints - missed by Salford |
| Roscarnick Farm | Cornwall | 275kW | 1 | 32 | Reported by residents as 'thumpy', turbine turbine off much of the time |
| Rhyd y Groes | Ceredigion | 300kW | 24 | 31 | Noise problems noted in ETSU-R-97 |
| Royd Moor | South Yorkshire | 500kW | 13 | 35 | In Salford but not added, MAS heard |
| Site P - single turbine | Pembrokeshire | ANON | Confirmed by EHO | ||
| Six Penny Wood | East Riding of Yorkshire | 2MW | 10 | 80 | Confirmed by residents, complaints to LA, compliance measurements |
| Skelmonae | Ellon, Aberdeenshire | 0.8MW | 4 | 64 | Controls in place to reduce noise |
| South Sharpley | Easington District | 1.3MW | 2 | 65 | Evidence from affected residents |
| St Breock | Cornwall | 450kW | 11 | 35 | In Salford but not added |
| Swaffham | Norfolk | 1.8MW | 1 | 67 | Complaints and MAS measured, missed by Salford |
| Swinford | Leicestershire | 2MW | 11 | 80 | MAS have measured EAM |
| Taff Ely | South Wales | 0.45MW | 20 | 35 | Indirect information |
| Tallentire | Cumbria | 2MW | 6 | 80 | Direct complaint information |
| Tir Mostyn & Foel Goch | Denbighshire | 850kW | 25 | 49 | In Salford but not added |
| Trysglwyn | Gwynedd | 400kW | 14 | 25 | In Salford but not added |
| Wadlow | Cambridgeshire | 2MW | 13 | 80 | MAS have measured and confirmed with direct observations |
| Walkway Wind Farm | Sedgefield District | 2MW | 7 | 69 | Evidence from affected resident clearly identifies AM |
| Wharrels Hill, Bothel | Cumbria | 1.3MW | 8 | 76 | Complaints by residents of AM, post Salford |
| Whittlesey | Cambridgeshire | 1.8MW | 1 | 80 | Turned off at night |
| Site X | North East England | ANON | 15+ | ANON | Direct complaint evidence and measured data |
|
Ysgellog |
Anglesey | 2.3MW | 2 | 60-70 |
Correspondence from Council |
Many references derive from a study by Salford University in 2007. Reference to "not added" or "added" means that there was evidence of AM but Salford did or did not include it as AM related in their study. "MAS have no direct evidence" means we have not been able to verify the likelihood that complaints relate to AM. If you feel we have missed a wind farm near you then please let us know.
Deeping St Nicholas
The Deeping St Nicholas wind farm is generally well known with regard to the problems generated by EAM at Grays Farm approximately 1050m away from the turbines. Due to a settlement during High Court proceedings, MAS are limited as to what can be discussed but some data is in the public domain as identified below. The graphs and information below are taken from documents and information in the public domain prior to the settlement.
Lower frequency noise, such as AM, is often more noticeable within a dwelling than when external to a dwelling. This is largely due to elements of the building structure effectively blocking out mid and higher frequency masking sounds. This is well exemplified on the graph below showing the external noise level at Grays Farm, Deeping St Nicholas and simultaneous measurements with a first floor bedroom with the window slightly open.
Additional graphs showing measurements of AM at Deeping St Nicholas can be found in the listening room exercise document
North Pickenham
MAS are unaware of complaints to the authorities from this wind cluster and residential areas are further away than in other cases. Measurements on this occasion were not downwind and so this does not represent worst case impact. The graph in this case shows measurements relatively close to the turbines.
Red Tile
MAS were referred to this wind farm by a contact from another wind farm case and made aware of complaints of amplitude modulation (AM) at nearby housing. Located on farm land near Huntingdon this site is typical of a flat East Anglian wind farm site likely to generate AM.
The graph below shows measurements from the wind farm under meteorological conditions and at a time when AM is likely to occur. NB - this was measured 1450m from the nearest turbine which we have witnessed and measured on several occasions.
Swaffham, Norfolk
Measurements were made relatively close to the turbine and has been repeated closer to housing with similar results. Complaints have arisen in relation to this turbine but it was not included in the Salford results. The graph below compares the noise from the larger Swaffham turbine (green trace) with measurements from a medium sized turbine at Blood Hill, Norfolk (blue trace). The measurements of AM from Blood Hill fit with the description of AM in ETSU-R-97 and contrast the large turbine at Swaffham which is significantly in excess of the expectations of AM noise described in ETSU-R-97.
