PROJECT STORY
The challenge
Making our energy supply more sustainable is a top priority, and more and more wind farms will be built in the coming years.
Noise forecast app gives insights into noise, shadow flicker and experiences of wind turbines
Arcadis app strengthens communication between developers and local residents
The solution
The application that has been developed helps to increase support among local residents and ensures that they feel heard.
The impact
Local residents are less likely to be disturbed by noise pollution if they know what to expect and can easily report any disruption.
48 hours
up-to-date forecast of wind turbine noise
24/7
on-demand and up-to-date forecasting of shadow flicker
7 classifications
of noise forecast, ranging from <30 to >46 dB(A)
The challenge
Making our energy supply more sustainable is a top priority, and more and more wind farms will be built in the coming years. When developing these wind farms, however, local residents are often concerned about shadow flicker, landscapes being tarnished, ecological impacts and, in particular, noise pollution. These concerns cause unrest and reduce support for sustainable energy development.
The solution
Support from local residents will increase if they and other stakeholders feel heard by developers, local and provincial authorities, and operators. The interests of these stakeholders need to be carefully considered when developing and operating wind farms so that all parties can come together in a socially sustainable way to ensure a successful energy transition.
The impact
Local residents are less likely to be disturbed by noise pollution if they know what to expect and can easily report any disruption. This in turn initiates transparent communication, which contributes to greater mutual understanding and trust. Our Geluidsverwachting.nl app facilitates this communication. RWE Windpower Netherlands B.V. used our app for a pilot project and also found this to be the case. The project showed that the noise from an existing highway was often louder than the noise from the wind turbines and that the level of disruption reported was remarkably low. As a result, most local residents did not have the negative experience that was expected, making way for more positive opinions about wind turbines.
