Wind Farm Noise Study

The expansion of wind farm facilities in Australia has been associated with community complaints and concerns regarding noise, sleep disturbance and adverse health effects.

The Wind Farm Noise Study set out to determine whether or not sleep disturbances may arise from wind farm noise. To ensure that the noise is ecologically valid, we are using real wind farm noise that we measured in the field.

Led by Flinders University, this research involved a range of experts from a number of Australian institutions and has undergone a rigorous ethics approval process. It is funded by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Number GNT1113571).

For the first time, researchers used direct sleep recordings of brain waves (electroencephalographic, EEG) and cardiovascular measurements in a laboratory setting to assess the impact of different noises. The measures evaluated any possible sleep disruption and/or physiological activation in response to wind farm noise compared to other noise disturbances (particularly traffic) during sleep.

Register your interest to participate in the laboratory study.

Background information

Good sleep is essential for normal daytime functioning and health. It is well known that sleep disorders and sensory disturbances, such as traffic noise, reduce sleep quality, which may impact on health.

Therefore it is important to determine whether wind farm noises disturb ssleep.

Research team

Chief Investigators

Associate Professor Peter Catcheside

Emeritus Professor Leon Lack

Doctor Kristy Hansen

Associate Professor Con Doolan

Emeritus Professor Colin Hansen

Doctor Andrew Vakulin

Doctor Nicole Lovato

Professor Dorothy Bruck

Doctor Ching Li Chai-Coetzer

Doctor Jeremy Mercer

Research Associates

Doctor Gorica Micic

Doctor Branko Zajamsek

PhD students

Mr Bastien Lechat

Ms Tessa Liebich

Ms Claire Dunbar

Mr Mahmoud Ahmed Alamir

Masters Students

Mr Felix Decup

Mr Duc Phuc Nguyen

Participating institutions

Flinders University

The University of Adelaide

School of Mechanical Engineering

The University of New South Wales

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Victoria University

Psychology

Publications and conference proceedings

Publications

T Liebich, L Lack, K Hansen, B Zajamšek, N Lovato, P Catcheside, Micic, G. (2020). A systematic review and meta‐analysis of wind turbine noise effects on sleep using validated objective and subjective sleep assessments. Journal of Sleep Research, e13228
Lechat B, Hansen K, Catcheside P, Zajamsek B. (2020). Beyond K-complex binary scoring during sleep: probabilistic classification using deep learning, Sleep, zsaa077, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa077
Nguyen, D.P., Hansen, K., Zajamsek, B., Catcheside, P. (2020). Evaluation of wind farm noise amplitude modulation synthesis quality. Applied Acoustics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2020.107349
Nguyen, D.P., Hansen, K., Zajamsek, B. (2020). Human perception of wind farm vibration.
Journal of Low Frequency Noise Vibration and Active Control, https://doi.org/10.1177/1461348419837115
Alamir MA, Hansen KL, Zajamsek B, Catcheside P, Hansen C. (2019). Subjective responses to wind turbine noise: A review of laboratory listening test methods. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 114: 109317.
Hansen, K.L., Zajamsek, B. and Hansen, C. (2019). Investigation of a microphone height correction for long-range wind farm noise measurements. Applied Acoustics, 155: 97-110.
Hansen K, Nguyen P, Zajamsek B. (2019). Prevalence of wind farm amplitude modulation at long-range residential locations. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 455: 136-149.
Hansen, K, Zajamsek, B and Hansen, C. (2018). Towards a reasonable penalty for amplitude modulated wind turbine noise. Acoustics Australia, 46(1): 21-25.
Hansen, K, Zajamsek, B and Hansen, C. (2018). Wind Farm Noise Uncertainty: Prediction, Measurement and Compliance Assessment. Acoustics Australia, 46(1): 59-67.
Micic G, Zajamsek B, Lack L, Hansen K, Doolan C, Hansen C, Vakulin A, Lovato N, Bruck D, Chai-Coetzer CL, Mercer J, Catcheside P. (2018). A Review of the Potential Impacts of Wind Farm Noise on Sleep. Acoustics Australia, 46(1): 87-97.

Conference proceedings

Dunbar C, Catcheside P, Valukin A, Micic G (2020). A pilot study investigating the effect of road traffic and wind farm noise on electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power during sleep. Adelaide Sleep Retreat
Manners J, Catcheside P, Dunbar C, Liebich T, Lovato N, Lack L, Micic G. (2020). Sound Asleep:
Does Insomnia Explain Wind Turbine and Road Traffic Noise-Attributed Sleep Disturbance. Adelaide Sleep Retreat
Rawson G, Catcheside P, Liebich T, Dunbar C, Lovato N, Lack L, Micic G. (2020). What’s keeping you up at night? A population study investigating the effects of wind farm and road traffic noise on sleep in comparison to a quiet rural area. Adelaide Sleep Retreat
T Liebich, P Catcheside, L Lack, K Hansen, B Zajamsek, N Lovato, G Micic. (2020). An evaluation of wind farm noise effects on sleep using validated objective and subjective sleep assessment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Australasian Sleep Association, Sleep Down Under, October 2020, virtual online conference.
T Liebich, G Micic, K Hansen, B Zajamsek, N Lovato, P Catcheside, C Dunbar, B Lechat, F Decup, L Lack (2020). The effect of wind farm noise on subjective and polysomnographically measured sleep onset latency: a pilot study. Journal of Sleep Research, 280-280.
T Liebich, P Catcheside, L Lack, K Hansen, B Zajamsek, N Lovato, G Micic. (2020). An evaluation of wind farm noise effects on sleep using validated objective and subjective sleep assessment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sleep Research, 186-187.
F Decup, B Lechat, S Appleton, K Hansen, B Zajamsek, A Vakulin, R Adams, D Eckert, C Hirotsu, R Heinzer, P Catcheside (2020). Key components of the pulse wave amplitude signal during sleep are associated with prevalent hypertension in two large community samples. Journal of Sleep Research, 69-70.
G Micic, B Zajamsek, T Liebich, C Dunbar, B Lechat, F Decup, N Lovato, L Lack, K Hansen, A Vakulin, P Catcheside (2020). The validity of wrist-worn actigraphy compared to polysomnography for detecting sleep versus wake in the presence of environmental road traffic and wind farm noise. Journal of Sleep Research, 174. C Dunbar, P Catcheside, A Vakulin, K Hansen, B Zajamsek, B Lechat, F Decup, T Liebich, L Lack, G Micic. (2020). A pilot study investigating the effect of wind farm versus road traffic noise on electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power during sleep. Journal of Sleep Research, 178.
Nguyen, D.P., Hansen, K., Zajamsek, B., Micic, G., Catcheside, P. (2020) Wind farm infrasound detectability and its effects on the perception of wind farm noise amplitude modulation. Acoustics 2019, Sound Decisions: Moving Forward with Acoustics - Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Australian Acoustical Society
Hansen, K., Nguyen, P., Lechat, B., Zajamsek, B, Alamir, M., Micic, G., Catcheside, P. (2020). Comparison between perceptual responses to traffic noise and wind farm noise in a non-focused listening test. Acoustics, Sound Decisions: Moving Forward with Acoustics - Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Australian Acoustical Society
Alamir, M.A., Catcheside, P.G. Hansen, K.L., Zajamsek, B. and Micic, G. (2019). Human response to wind farm noise compared to road traffic noise based on focussed listening tests. InterNoise.
Hansen, K., Zajamsek, B. (2019). Strategies to improve wind farm compliance assessment. International scientific consultation on wind turbine noise and possible impacts on living environment Ljubljana.
Dunbar, C., Vakulin, A., Micic, G., Zajamsek, B., Lack, L., Hansen, K., ... & Lovato, N. (2019, October). A pilot study examining EEG spectral power in the presence of infrasound during sleep. In Journal of Sleep Research, 28.
Liebich, T., Micic, G., Zajamsek, B., Hansen, K., Lack, L., Dunbar, C., ... & Catcheside, P. G. (2019, October). A pilot study investigating wind farm noise effects on objective and subjective sleep onset latency. In Journal of Sleep Research, 28.
Hansen, K., Nguyen, P., Zajamsek, B, Micic, G., Catcheside, P. (2019). Pilot study on perceived sleep acceptability of low-frequency, amplitude modulated tonal noise. Proceedings of the 23^rd International Congress on Acoustics, 9-13^th September, Aachen, Germany.
Nguyen, P, Hansen K, Zajamsek B. Characterizing amplitude modulation of wind farm noise. Hear to Listen, Acoustics Australia, South Australia, 6-9^th November 2018.
Lechat B, Hansen K, Zajamsek B, Catcheside P. Automatic detection of K-complexes. Oral presentation at the 9^th annual Adelaide Sleep Retreat (8^th November 2018).
Alamir MA, Hansen KL, Zajamsek B. The effect of wind farm noise on human response: An analysis of listening test methodologies. Hear to Listen, Acoustics Adelaide, South Australia, 6-9^th November 2018.
Hansen, K, Zajamsek, B., & Hansen, C. (2017) The Occurrence of Nocturnal Wind Farm Rumbling Noise. 7th International Conference on Wind Turbine Noise. Rotterdam, 2-5th May.
Liebich T, Micic G, Zajamsek B, Catcheside P. Evaluating Auditory Brainstem Responses in the Presence of Infrasound at Levels that Exist in the Environment. Oral presentation at the 8^th annual Adelaide Sleep Retreat (15^th November 2017).
Zajamsek B, Hansen KL, Micic G, Catcheside P, Hansen CH. The assessment of hearing thresholds in the presence of infrasound. 7^th International Conference on Wind Turbine Noise. Rotterdam 4^th May 2017.

The study had three main parts:

A survey of people exposed to windfarm or traffic noise.

One of the aims of the survey was to compare responses about sleep disturbance from people exposed to wind farms and people who lived in noisy night-time traffic conditions, which are already known to disturb sleep.

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A in-home study of sleep and noise in people affected by noise.

Self-reported and direct objective measures of sleep quality were assessed in participants’ natural homes and noise environments to investigate the relationships between noise, sleep disturbances, and other factors.

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A laboratory study at the Flinders University Sleep Laboratory to investigate noise effects on sleep in a controlled sleep and noise environment.

Gold standard sleep and physiological activation responses to a range of noises were used to carefully test noise impacts on sleep macro-structure (i.e. sleep stage distribution and wake time during the sleep period) and sleep micro-structure (i.e. brief arousal and physiological activation responses).

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A survey of wind farm and traffic noise effects on sleep

This survey recruited participants from stratified samples of wind farm exposed and wind farm naïve participants, as well as road traffic noise exposed participants, in order to reduce bias effects. Our aim was to use the most appropriate sampling methods to draw a random sample of individuals in relevant exposure groups including those who lived:

within a 10 km radius of the nearest wind turbine in South Australia
adjacent to a busy main road
in a quiet rural region.

The survey ran via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) in which trained telephone interviewers called residents until either survey responses were obtained from pre-selected individuals, or respondents did not respond after multiple phone call attempts. This survey method proved to be effective in reducing the chances of response bias.

We applied CATI to examine the extent of potential sleep and noise issues as a function of living in proximity to wind turbine or road traffic noise sources. One of the aims of the survey was to compare responses about sleep disturbance from people exposed to wind farms and people who lived in noisy night-time traffic conditions, which were already known to disturb sleep.

Phone numbers of residents who lived less than 10 km from a wind turbine, in areas around Adelaide exposed to traffic noise and quiet rural areas, were randomly pre-selected for participation in the survey. These participants were subsequently invited to participate in the laboratory experiment. An approximately equal number of residents living in all distances greater than 10km were also pre-selected for participation to take into consideration the impact of turbine distance on survey responses.

The survey was 15 minutes long and consisted of sleep and quality of life questions, including general night-time noise questions directly relevant to sleep and proximity to noise sources.

We sent follow-up postal surveys to residents who completed the Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of noise-related sleep disturbance using established self-report questionnaires.

A Community Liaison Group was also established to develop an avenue for community involvement during the three phases of the project.

Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1191-1014.

In-home study

Simultaneous sleep and acoustic measurements in the natural home setting

Our wind farm in-home noise study was the first direct investigation of real-world wind farm compared to traffic noise effects on gold-standard polysomnography assessments of sleep.

Our aim was to assess self-reported (subjective) and direct objective measures of sleep quality in people's natural home and noise environment to investigate relationships between noise, sleep disturbances and other factors.

The process for the study involved the following:

Participation in the in-home study involved two consecutive night recordings.
Research personnel including one trained sleep technician and one sound technician, visited homes to set up acoustic recording and sleep monitoring using already established equipment and methods on nights when wind turbines were forecast to be downwind from the residence. Standard audiology tests and sleep-related questionnaires were also used to assess hearing and self-reported sleep for our records.
After each night, participants were asked to rate overall sleep quality and noise relative to their usual sleep.
Participants were also asked to collect five saliva samples immediately upon awakening, over the next 45-minutes and 12-hours after waking as a measure of short-term stress response. A small sample of hair was also collected to measure markers of long-term stress.

Data collection for this phase of the study has concluded and is currently undergoing data analysis.

Laboratory study

This project will use the best available measurements of sleep and physiological activation responses to a range of different noise types to carefully test noise impacts on sleep macro-structure (sleep stage distribution and wake time during the sleep period) and sleep micro-structure (brief arousal and physiological activation responses).

Participants who take part in the (CATI) and consent to being contacted about potential further involvement in this project, may be approached to take part in this phase of the study. Residents who have not been contacted via the CATI but would like to participate, are welcome to express their interest to partake in this experiment and will be considered.

What is the research question?

This study was the first direct investigation of real-world wind farm noise compared to traffic noise effects using gold-standard assessments of sleep (i.e., polysomnography that measures brainwaves and other physiological factors to determine sleep/wake). The aim was to assess self-reported (subjective) and direct objective measures of sleep quality in a carefully controlled laboratory environment to investigate relationships between noise, sleep disturbances and other factors.

What will the participants be expected to do?

Participants were booked to attend the sleep laboratory for seven consecutive nights (plus additional recovery nights if required to recover from the experimental nights), based on their availability and the availability of the laboratory. They resided in a private, self-contained bedroom (like a hotel room, with a king-size single bed, ensuite and shower facilities) and were welcome to use a shared lounge, kitchen and washing facilities.

We also posted a sleep monitoring device (like a FitBit) and sleep diary, that participants will be asked to use for two weeks prior to their laboratory stay.

Upon arrival at the sleep laboratory on the very first evening, participants were familiarised with the facility and the experimental procedures and given an opportunity to settle into your bedroom. After dinner, research personnel including trained sleep and sound technicians, set up participants with sleep-recording devices. Participants then undertook a listening test to examine annoyance and acceptability for sleep toward different noise types, and complete questionnaires.

At their usual bedtime, lights were turned off in participants’ bedrooms for sleep.

Each morning, four saliva samples at 15-minute intervals as a measure of stress-response (cortisol, and a 5^th sample in the evening). Participants were then asked to complete a sequence of computerised tasks and questionnaire.

On a single occasion, a small hair sample was collected to measure long-term stress and, on another occasion, participants attended a 60-minute clinical audiology appointment at the Flinders Medical Centre Audiology Clinic.

What benefits will participants receive?

Full accommodation, all meals and snack was provided during the stay.

Participants received $100 per night reimbursement for their time, plus $200 upon successful completion of all 7 overnights. Participants travelling from rural areas received $400 for travel expenses and $100 for urban travel to the laboratory.

Location of the study

Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Nick Antic Laboratory located at 5 Laffer Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042.

Who is eligible to participate?

Anyone aged 18 and over.
In particular, we are seeking interest from those who:
1. Live <10 km away from a wind turbine
2. Live adjacent to a busy main road
3. Live in quiet areas unaffected by environmental noise
Those who can travel to Adelaide and reside in the laboratory for 7 consecutive nights.

Who to contact and by what date?

Please contact Dr. Gorica Micic before December 2020.

Phone: +61 8 8201 2377
Email: WindFarmNoiseStudy@flinders.edu.au

More information:

Download the participant information sheet. Please register your interest using the form on this page.

Community Liaison Group

A Community Liaison Group (CLG) of people who live in the vicinity of a wind farms has been engaged to contribute to the planning and implementation phases of the Wind Farm Noise Study.

The CLG includes community members representing each one of several communities located near a wind farm targeted by this research project. These include Waterloo, Hallett, Snowtown and Jamestown wind farms.

More information: Call for expression of interest - Community Liaison Group (PDF 95KB)

Home to excellence

Our dedicated sleep research facility is made up of approximately 900sqm of research and laboratory spaces, including a fully configurable six-bedroom, acoustically treated laboratory equipped with the latest technology to measure respiratory and brain function.

These rooms can be used to test for the impacts of environmental noise on sleep and conduct live-in sleep deprivation and circadian experiments.

There is space to accommodate 40 research staff and clinic rooms for epidemiological and clinical research. But perhaps the most significant strength of the space is its ability to facilitate cross-disciplinary scientific collaborations in translational research.

We are extremely proud of the combination of such cutting-edge laboratories, the latest technology, and work spaces that are home to our world-class teaching and research into respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders.

Volunteers

We need people with and without sleep disorders to participate in our important research projects. Your interest and enthusiasm is vital to our success. If you want to learn about our research or you're ready to volunteer, please get in touch.

Browse our research projects

12 February, 2019

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Make an enquiry

Contact us for further information or to join our Community Liason Group:

Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health
Mark Oliphant Building
5 Laffer Drive
BEDFORD PARK SA 5042

+ 61 8 8201 2377

WindFarmNoiseStudy@flinders.edu.au

Background information