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Introduction
The installation of a wind
turbine normally requires permission from the local planning authority.
 In practice, use of the smaller
battery charging systems meets few problems, since they are generally regarded similarly
to TV aerial installations. However, consideration must be given to any neighbours and for
larger systems, prospective users are advised to seek the advice and assistance of the
local planners at the earliest possible stage - sites in National Parks or SSI's may face
objections.
Aesthetics
The visual impact of a wind
turbine system must be carefully considered.
Colour, good design and sensitive
siting are important.
Please Note: it is
not advisable to site anything other than very small wind turbines on a house. Apart from
transmitted noise, winds over buildings are turbulent which results in loss of
performance and extra wear.
Acoustic Noise
Small wind turbines produce
very little noise, they give a low whirring, not much more noticeable than the noise of
the wind itself.
However, if the pole is attached to
a boat, vehicle or building, vibration noise may be amplified. Resonance can be avoided by
damping or altering a dimension of the support structure.
With larger machines there may also
be gearbox noise but this should be minimal with a good design. However, large
grid-connected wind turbines should not be sited closer than 400m to dwellings.
TV interference etc...
This can result from towers and
blades causing obstruction; reflection of the signal; or by electrical interference from
the generating equipment.
Usually this is only a
problem for larger wind turbines in areas where radio & television signals are weak.
Larger machines should not be sited
on a direct line of site between microwave transmitters and receivers etc.
Land Use
The siting of a wind
turbine actually takes up very little ground area.
Existing land use is normally
unaffected with access right up to the tower base. However, factors such as convenience,
future building plans, recreation, agriculture, animals and mowing etc. need to be
considered.
Ease of Installation &
Maintenance
Not the least important
consideration!
Some of the windiest sites
are also the most difficult to get to - especially for cranes and lorries, which are
needed to install large machines.
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