Wind Turbine noise: Characteristics of Strongly Annoyed Residents Johannes Pohl & Gundula Hübner Institute of Psychology Health and Environmental Psychology Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg and MSH Medical School Hamburg Germany 30.05.2018, Stockholm 1

Situation regulations for maximal SPL of WT noise residents complains need for deeper problem analysis need for guidelines for problematic cases 2

Diagnostic tools questionnaire, face-to-face interview complain sheet app, noise indicator audio recorder long-term noise monitoring background information concerning the planning process (e.g., support, opposition, conflicts) 3

Annoyance induced by WT immissions 4

Definition for strong WT annoyance (Pohl et al., 2018) at least somewhat annoyed + psychological or somatic symptoms occuring at least once a month 9.9 % of the participants in 2012 and 6.8 % in 2014 were strongly annoyed by WT noise but 16 % by traffic noise 5

Strongly annoyed residents U.S. Europe sound 1.1 % 4.3 % landscape change 1.5 % 0.0 % obstraction markings 1.2 % shadow Flicker 0.2 % total 2.3 % 3.7 % a In the representative U.S. study weighted percentages are used (Hübner et al., 2018). In the combined three European studies they are the actual percentages (Hübner & Löffler, 2013; Pohl et al., 2012, 2018). 6

Symptoms attributed to WT noise (Pohl et al., 2018) hindered falling asleep 7 %, multiple awakening 5 % reduced performance 5 %, reduced attention 5 % tiredness 5 % nervousness 4 %, tenseness 5 % negative mood 7 %, helplessness 4 % irritation, anger, hostility 6 % feeling of pressure related to WT sound waves 9 % body vibrations related to WT sound waves 6 % 7

Typical WT noise situation (Pohl et al., 2018) frequency: about once a week 60 % time of day: evening or night 52 % noise descriptors: swoosh 77 %, boom 73 % disturbed activities: sleeping 30 %, relaxing 25 %, leisure activities 22 % immediate noise reactions: irritated, angry 32 % wind: down wind 69 %, 6-9 m/s at hub height amplitude modulation 8

Behavioural coping (Pohl et al., 2018) window closing 26 % place leaving outside 12 % place leaving inside 7 % radio / TV volume up 8 % conversation with relatives 32 % 9

Cognitive coping (Pohl et al., 2018) 10

Personal features (Pohl et al., 2018) 75 % of participants with symptoms in comparison to 34 % without symptoms were passive or active against the wind farm in the past greater strain during planning / construction phase greater noise sensitivity 11

Correlations with WT sound annoyance U.S. Europe distance to nearest WT .154 ─.105 sound pressure level, day .140 .271 number of WT in the nearest wind farm .202 .113 planning process fairness ─.622 ─.430 planning process annoyance/stress .734 .373 present attitude towards wind farm ─.706 ─.674 12

Psychological factors positive expectations (e.g., financial participation) negative expectations (nocebo effect) justice, fairness preload intensified self-observation misattribution vs. explanations visibility negative attitude, opposition 13

Conclusion significant acoustical factors significant psychological factors noise and impact mitigation taken residents concerns seriously early and informal resident participation fair planning process 14

Ongoing research on WT noise in Germany low frequency noise (laboratory study) amplitude modulation (field study) TremAc: Objective Criteria for Seismic and Acoustic Emission of Inland Wind Turbines (modelling, field studies) 15

References Hübner, G., E. Löffler (2013). Wirkungen von Windkraftanlagen auf Anwohner in der Schweiz: Einflussfaktoren und Empfehlungen (Impact of Wind Turbines on Residents in Switzerland: Impact Factors and Recommendations). Institut für Psychologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Research Report. Hübner, G., J. Pohl, B. Hoen, J. Firestone, J. Rand, D. Elliott (2018). Comparing Strongly Annoyed Individuals with Symptoms Near U.S. Turbines To Those In Surveyed European Communities. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Preliminary Results Webinar. March 13, 2018. Pohl, J., G. Hübner, A. Mohs (2012). Acceptance and Stress Effects of Aircraft Obstruction Markings of Wind Turbines. Energy Policy, 50, 592–600. Pohl, J., J. Gabriel, G. Hübner (2018). Understanding Stress Effects of Wind Turbine Noise – The Integrated Approach. Energy Policy, 112, 119–128. 16

Thank You! 17