Question

What are considerations to reduce the visual impacts of wind turbine installation?

Answer 1

* Depending on the location, a wind energy facility may have an impact on viewscapes, especially if visible from or located near residential areas of tourism sites. Visual impacts associated with wind energy
projects typically concern the installed and operational turbines themselves (e.g., color, height, and
number of turbines)

* Impacts may also arise in relation to operational wind facilities , interaction with the character of the
surrounding landscape and/or seascape. Impacts on Legally Protected and Internationally Recognized
Areas of importance to biodiversity and cultural heritage features are also a consideration. Preparing
zone of visual influence maps and preparing wire-frame images and photomontages from key viewpoints
is recommended to inform both the assessment and the consultation processes.
* Avoidance and minimization measures to address landscape, seascape, and visual impacts are
largely associated with the siting and layout of wind turbines and associated infrastructure, such as
meteorological towers, onshore access tracks, and substations.
* Consideration should be given to turbine layout, size, and scale in relation to the surrounding
landscape and seascape character and surrounding visual receptors (e.g., residential properties, users of
recreational areas/routes).

* Consideration should also be given to the proximity of turbines to settlements, residential areas, and
other visual receptors to minimize visual impacts and impacts on residential amenity, where possible. All
relevant viewing angles should be considered when considering turbine locations, including viewpoints
from nearby settlements.

Other factors can be considered in relation to minimizing visual impacts:
1)Incorporate community input into wind energy facility layout and siting.
2)Maintain a uniform size and design of turbines (e.g., type of turbine and tower, as well as
height).
3)Adhere to country-specific standards for marking turbines, including aviation/navigational and
environmental requirements (see Community Health and Safety section below), where available.
4) Minimize presence of ancillary structures on the site by minimizing site infrastructure, including
the number of roads, as well as by burying collector system power lines, avoiding stockpiling of
excavated material or construction debris, and removing inoperative turbines.
5)Erosion measures should be implemented and cleared land should be promptly re-vegetated with local seed stock of native species.