[holding answer 22 January 2008]: In 2004, the then Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) (now the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform—DBERR) commissioned Hayes McKenzie to report on claims that infrasound or low frequency noise emitted by wind turbine generators were causing health effects. Hayes McKenzie reported to the then DTI in May 2006 that there was no evidence of health effects arising from infrasound or low frequency noise generated by wind farms. The report recommended further work on the specific issue of Aerodynamic Modulation (AM).
A Government-funded research study, entitled ‘Research into Aerodynamic Modulation (AM) of Wind Turbine Noise’, undertaken by Salford University, reported in 2007 that although the incidence of AM could not be fully predicted, the incidence of AM and the number of people affected was probably too small to make a compelling case for further research:
“Considering the need for further research, the incidence of AM and the number of people affected is probably too small at present to make a compelling case for further research funding in preference to other types of noise which affect many more people. On the other hand, since AM cannot be fully predicted at present, and its causes are not fully understood we consider that it might be prudent to carry out further research to improve understanding in this area.”
On consideration of the Salford report the Government decided that there was not at present a compelling case for further work into AM, and that it would not carry out further research, but it would continue to keep the issue under review.
Further information is available on the website of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.