Sound emission measurement and frequency analysis for PV plants
Sound emission measurement for PV plants: we record the noise level of your photovoltaic plant reliably and deliver verifiable data for operation.
Sound matters during the ongoing operation of a photovoltaic plant, too. Our measurements record the noise level reliably and provide dependable data. This lets you assess your plant's noise emissions objectively at any time, meet legal requirements and plan operations management efficiently. During measurement, wind, traffic and other extraneous noise have to be taken into account so that only the plant's contribution is assessed.
A PV plant generates electricity silently, but the plant technology does not. Inverters cause low-frequency switching noise, transformers a hum from core vibrations, and fans add noise. Because these noises run continuously, they stand out in quiet surroundings, especially at night. Frequency analysis breaks the noise down into its frequency components and shows whether individual components stand out. This helps to find the source and reduce it in a targeted way, for example through a different location, an enclosure or maintenance of worn components. Operating states are important here: inverters and transformers behave differently at full load than at partial load, so the measurement should cover the relevant operating states.
We develop a site-specific measurement concept, use current calibrated measurement equipment and measure in accordance with internationally recognised standards. A distinction has to be made between emission at the source and immission at the neighbours. For measurements in the neighbourhood, the applicable current ÖNORM and ÖAL sets of rules must be consulted in Austria, such as ÖNORM S 5004 on the measurement of sound immissions. In plant permitting procedures, the assessment is mostly based on ÖAL Guideline No. 3 Sheet 1 and asks what is reasonable for a healthy, normally sensitive person. Forecasts require complete emission data of the plant, which a measurement can provide. We document the results in standards-compliant test reports. Measurements are taken where the plant has its effect: at the source to determine the emission data, and at the nearest residential uses for the immission. With suitable measurement and evaluation methods, the plant's contribution to the noise situation on site can thus be assessed, not just a calculated value.
With the manufacturer we coordinate technically and solution-oriented on an equal footing and give concrete, practical recommendations for optimisation. The acoustic forecast is already prepared during permitting in the operational noise assessment for PV plants; the existing noise exposure at the immission point is recorded by the sound immission measurement. The measurement in operation shows whether the plant complies with the forecast. It complements technical operations management and commercial operations management. For wind farms we offer sound emission measurement on wind turbines. If measured values and forecast do not match, the cause can be narrowed down, for example a defective component or an unfavourably chosen location. The result is a report that the authority, operators and manufacturers can all use alike.
