
140 Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems
© 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
3.3.1 Noise Issues
Noise issues related to wind energy have been reported since the 1980s. Problems were ini-
tially found with the mechanical design as well as blade design and operation. For example,
the 2 MW MOD-1 turbine developed by NASA in the late 1970s was a two-bladed turbine
(61 m rotor diameter) [2]. It operated with the turbine blades downstream of a lattice tower
structure. Low-frequency noise was produced as the turbine blades moved in and out of
the “tower shadow” caused by wind owing around and through the lattice tower. Noise
of signicant magnitude ...