EK 130 Wind

Keping Hua

Health Impact Blog

EK 132 Wind Energy

Prof. Grace

11/16/2012

Wind Energy, considered to have high potential and have already realized relatively low production costs compare to other sustainable energies.

However, it may be difficult to site wind turbines in some areas, due to the aesthetic or environmental reasons and might cause human health impact, such as noise, ice
throw and shadow flicker.

According to the residents of Wiittlesey, where a wind farm locates and impact by Ice-Tossing Turbine this winter, the ice that throwing by wind turbine smashed into a carpet showroom and a parking lot. However, the wind industry claims that the ice and snow are so heavy that would build up on the turbine and eventually, fall down and end up at places at the base of the turbine. They also claim that the turbines would not spin while so much ice on it, just as airplanes will not fly with too much ice on its wings.

Based a Swiss report last year, “Wind Turbine Ice Throw Studies in the Swiss Alps”, focused on turbines near ski places. The report states that ice throw is a “significant safety risk”, that the most dangerous place is under the wind turbine, only about 5 percent of ice landed more than 80 meters from the turbine.

According to the danger of ice throw, experts
recommend that wind farm developers should take ice throw into account as a safety issue while they were choosing the wind farm location. Another good way to avoid this unnecessary impact is to build “de-iced” prior to take off the ice and snow that build up on the turbine.

Wind turbine shadow flicker has the potential to induce photosensitive epilepsy; however the health risk is considered relatively small if proper planning of wind turbine’s location and direction.

Many data indicate that the three conditions that are necessary to cause the shadow flicker are: first, there
must be sun shine and no cloud cover; second, the blades have to facing
directly toward or away from the sun; third, the observer has to be close
enough to the object to be in its shadow.

First of all, there is very little chance to meet all three conditions
that are necessary to cause shadow flicker. Secondly, we can avoid shadow
flicker from happening by proper sitting of the wind turbine.  So many experts hold that shadow flicker is
not the majority effects of health.

However, shadow flicker is still a safety concern, since it can distract driver if it’s locates by the road. In UK, wind turbine developer have been resolved the problem by shutting down turbines for the period during the day when shadow flicker is an issue.

Noise impact has been considered as the most serious issue compare to other health impact by wind turbine. Wind turbine is easily annoyance even at a low frequency. Many residents, who live around the wind farm area, complain that they could not rest and always awakened because of the
noise of wind turbine.

“I think it’s a great idea that all wind turbines are tested before they’re built or permitted,’’ said Eleanor Tillinghast, a steering committee member of Windwise Massachusetts. He states that “The problem is that the state’s testing doesn’t capture the infrasound, what you can’t hear, which is what’s affecting the body.’’

The turbine noise can be controlled by reducing the rotational speed of the blades or shut down after a certain time to avoid affecting the residents.

However, according to the chief executive of Fox Island Wind, George Baker, that turning down the turbines leads to an economic cost.

Even though the wind turbines have been caused some impact to human’s health. However, as a potentially excellent sustainable energy, by efficiently generate a great amount of energy with relatively low cost; wind energy is an indispensable second generation green energy. We can avoid those health impacts by carefully planning of location and the direction of blades. The simplest solution, suggests by Richard R.James, an acoustic expert, is that do not put the turbines so close to where people live.

Cite:

1. GALBRAITH, KATE . “Green.” Ice-Tossing
   Turbines: Myth or Hazard?. The New York Times, 09 2008. Web. 28 Nov 2012.
2. Wahl, David , and Philippe Giguere. “GE
   Energy.” Ice Shedding and Ice Throw –. GE Energy Greenville, SC.
   Web. 28 Nov 2012.
3. . “The Society for Wind Vigilance.” Visual
   Health Effects and Wind Turbines . N.p.. Web. 28 Nov 2012.
4. “Business Green.” Study rejects
   wind turbine “shadow flicker” fears. N.p., 16 2011. Web. 28 Nov
   2012.
5. . “Blue Highlands Citizen Coalition
   .” Ice Throw. The Blue Highlands Citizens Coalition, n.d. Web. 28
   Nov 2012.
6. . ” .” Shadow Flicker. Nobel
   Environmental Power. Web. 28 Nov 2012.
7. Abel , David Wind turbine noise is targeted.
   The Boston Globe, 21 2012. Web. 28 Nov 2012.
8. ZELLER
   Jr., TOM . “Energy & Environment .” For Those Near, the
   Miserable Hum of Clean Energy. The New York Times, 5 2015. Web. 28 Nov
   2012.