Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Application of Preventive Protection for Wind Farm Noise—Case Study: Maestrale Ring Wind Farm
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
- Unit 1—forms part of the wind farm northeast of the Čantavir settlement, within which 46 wind turbines are planned;
- Unit 2—forms part of the wind farm southwest of the Čantavir settlement, within which 30 wind turbines are planned;
- Unit 3—forms part of the wind farm north of the Stari and Novi Žednik settlements, within which 22 wind turbines are planned; and
- Unit 4—forms part of the wind farm west of the existing E-75 highway, within which 15 wind turbines are planned.
- The permitted noise level values were, in the phase of the wind farm’s operation, in line with IFC PS1 recommendations, i.e., EHS Guidelines [57];
- Modeling was performed for 113 wind turbines. In order for the modeling to cover as wide a range of wind turbines as possible, the types of wind turbines with the most unfavorable scenario were analyzed for the mathematical model, i.e., the types of wind turbine that had the largest dimensions at that time—with the height of the turbine center at 149 m and the rotor diameter at 162 m (Vestas V 162/5,6 MW);
- The permissible noise levels of wind turbines recommended by the World Bank were compared with the values permitted by national regulations [56];
- The basic values used in this report to describe noise are in accordance with the conventions listed in ISO 1996-1:2016 and ISO 1996-2:2017 [58]. Accordingly, all frequency-weighted levels of sound pressure are expressed in decibels (dB) (e.g., the sound pressure levels obtained during modeling using A-frequency weighting are expressed as LA (dB).
- Sound emissions from the selected type of wind turbine;
- A 3D digital model of the planning area;
- The international standard ISO 9613 [59], with input settings and settings specially adapted to the assessment of noise from wind farms.
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
List of Nomenclature/Abbreviations
SEA | Strategic Environmental Assessment |
WHO | World Health Organization |
EIA | Environmental Impact Assessment |
ESIA | Environmental and Social Impact Assessment |
LCA | Life Cycle Assessment |
IFC | International Financial Institution |
EHS Guidelines | Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines |
ISO | International Organization for Standardization |
LVNI | Limit values for the noise indicators |
GIS | Geographical Information System |
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Environmental Receptor | SEA Objective | Indicators |
---|---|---|
Social factors | 12. Reduce the population’s exposure to an increased level of noise |
|
Criteria | Rank | Description |
---|---|---|
Magnitude of Impact | ||
Significant | −3 | Significantly burdens the capacity of the space (increase in noise levels at receptors over 4 dB compared to Limit values for the noise indicators (LVNI) |
Greater | −2 | Disturbs the environment to a greater extent (increase in level of noise at receptors between 3 and 4 dB compared to LVNI) |
Lesser | −1 | Disturbs the environment to a lesser extent (increase in level of noise at receptors below 3 dB compared to LVNI) |
No impact | 0 | No impact on the receptors (values of noise levels at the receptors are below LVNI) |
Spatial Dispersion of Impact | ||
Municipal | O | Possible impact on the whole area of the municipality |
Local | L | Possible impact on individual locations |
Probability of Impact | ||
100% | I | Impact certain |
Greater than 50% | V | Impact likely |
Less than 50% | M | Impact possible |
Frequency of Impact | ||
Occasional | P | Occasional impact |
Constant | S | Constant impact |
Receiver-Receptor | One-Hour LAeq (dB) | |
---|---|---|
Day 07:00–22:00 | Night 22:00–07:00 | |
Residential; institutional; education | 55 | 45 |
Industrial, commercial | 70 | 70 |
Zone | Purpose of the Space | Noise Level, LAeq (dB) | |
---|---|---|---|
Day and Evening (Guidelines for Community Noise, World Health Organization (WHO), 1999)) | Night | ||
1 | Areas for rest and recreation, hospital zones and convalescent homes, cultural and historical sites, large parks | 50 | 40 |
2 | Tourist areas, camps and school zones | 50 | 45 |
3 | Residential areas | 55 | 45 |
4 | Business/residential and commercial/residential areas and children’s playgrounds | 60 | 50 |
5 | Town/city center, business, administrative zone with apartments, zones along highways and roads | 65 | 55 |
6 | Industrial, storage and service areas and transport terminals without residential buildings | At the border of this zone, the noise must not exceed the limit value in the zone with which it borders |
Planning Solution | SEA Goal | Rank (The Rank of the Impacts Is Determined According to the Criteria from Table 2.) of the Impact | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|
Unit 1-Čantavir east (46 wind turbines) | To reduce exposure of the population to increased noise levels | 0 | In units 1 and 2 no increase in the level of noise above LVNI is expected, either for the day/evening, or for the night period. |
Unit 2-Čantavir west (30 wind turbines) | 0 | ||
Unit 3-Žednik north (22 wind turbines) | L /−2 / V / P | In unit 3 it is expected that the LVNI will be exceeded by 3.5 dB in the night period as a consequence of the work of wind turbines marked: VG48, VG51 and VG113 | |
Unit 4-Žednik south (15 wind turbines) | 0 | In unit 4 no increase in the value of noise levels above LVNI is expected, either for the day/evening or night period. |
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Josimović, B.D.; Cvjetić, A.; Manić, B. Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Application of Preventive Protection for Wind Farm Noise—Case Study: Maestrale Ring Wind Farm. Energies 2021, 14, 6174. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196174
Josimović BD, Cvjetić A, Manić B. Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Application of Preventive Protection for Wind Farm Noise—Case Study: Maestrale Ring Wind Farm. Energies. 2021; 14(19):6174. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196174
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosimović, Boško D., Aleksandar Cvjetić, and Božidar Manić. 2021. "Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Application of Preventive Protection for Wind Farm Noise—Case Study: Maestrale Ring Wind Farm" Energies 14, no. 19: 6174. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196174
APA StyleJosimović, B. D., Cvjetić, A., & Manić, B. (2021). Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Application of Preventive Protection for Wind Farm Noise—Case Study: Maestrale Ring Wind Farm. Energies, 14(19), 6174. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196174