Author(s)

Jose Molina-Ruiz^1*, Mari Luz García-Lorenzo², María José Martínez-Sánchez³, Diego Gallego⁴

¹Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
²Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Geology, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
³Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
⁴Diego Gallego Cambronero Departamento Ecologia, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.

Wind energy is a clean renewable and its benefits are considered greater than the disadvantages. However, even though wind farms represent environmentally friendly projects, they frequently generate public resistance. Wind turbines are socially controversial because of their visual and acoustic impacts. The aim of this work was to design a methodology for the preliminary evaluation of potential acoustic impact of wind farms. Three steps have been proposed: identification, characterization and assessment of the acoustic impact during the construction, operation and decommissioning phase. Obtained results in the studied area suggested that at a maximum power, at 500 meters of wind turbines, noise level is lower than the reference level established in the legislation. In summary, proposed methodology could help to determine and to evaluate the best location for new wind farm projects. Proposed methodology could help to determine and to evaluate the best location for new wind farm projects. Moreover, this method could be used as a consulting tool for public organizations and private institutions, being quick, concise and clear. Obtained results for the studied wind farm project suggested that almost all the area showed noise levels lower than established background noise level.

Wind Turbine, Environmental Impact Assessment, Acoustic Impact, Wind Farm

Molina-Ruiz, J. , García-Lorenzo, M. , Martínez-Sánchez, M. and Gallego, D. (2018) Assessment of the Acoustic Impact of Wind Farm Projects: Methodology and Case. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 6, 99-110. doi: 10.4236/gep.2018.61007.