WKC Group awarded contract to deliver a Noise Impact Assessment in East Africa
WKC is proud to announce that it has been awarded a contract to deliver a noise impact assessment for a new 200MW wind farm in East Africa. Wind power capacity in the region is expected to increase by around 12 gigawatts by 2040. The project will convert wind into useful energy utilising an array of highly efficient land based wind turbines.
The first phase of the project entails a noise screening study which will assist the Project engineers with the initial layout and array optimisation aimed at minimising potential noise impacts to nearby communities. Once the preliminary layouts have been established, the second phase of the project, entailing comprehensive baseline noise surveys and detailed noise modelling, will commence.
A number of layout options will be evaluated utilising the internationally recognised SoundPLAN® noise model. SoundPLAN incorporates ISO 9613-1 and ISO 9613-2 “Acoustics – Attenuation of sound during propagation outdoors”. These support calculation procedures for the following physical effects:
- Geometric divergence – reduction in sound level due to distance (not frequency dependent);
- Atmospheric absorption – absorption of sound by the air (frequency dependent);
- Ground effect – absorption of sound by the ground (frequency dependent);
- Reflection from surfaces (not frequency dependent, rarely employed for wind farms);
- Screening by obstacles – shielding by a feature or the ground, this causes a reduction in the noise level (frequency dependent); and
- Miscellaneous effects – such as propagation through trees.
The noise impact assessment will be undertaken in accordance with the IFC Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines for Wind Energy, with particular reference to the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) Good Practice Guidelines for the Assessment and Rating of Wind Turbine Noise. WKC’s team of environmental engineers will deliver both the baseline noise surveys and the noise modelling studies.
We are thrilled to start work on another wind farm noise assessment in the region, as we can apply our international expertise to support the development of sustainable, renewable power in Africa.
