New add-ons make wind turbines quieter

This blade 'slipper' makes wind energy more appealing for local communities

Spotted: Wind energy is an important component of achieving net zero. However, onshore turbines often face planning challenges from residents concerned about noise.

Now, startup MuTech is on a mission to reduce the noise wind turbines generate, helping to minimise the impact of wind farms so they can be placed in a wider range of areas. The company began in TU Delft’s Wind Energy department with researchers looking for a way to reduce the noise produced by both aircraft and wind power, caused in both cases by airflow over the rear part of the wing or blade.

To do this, the team developed an add-on made from a foam-like permeable material that dampens the noise of both aircraft wings and wind turbine blades. When the initial technology showed promise, MuTech was spun out to focus on turbine blades. The result was MuteSkin, a noise-reducing ‘slipper’ made of permeable material, which can be attached to the rear of the blade on one side to reduce overall blade noise by six A-weighted decibels (how loud the human ear perceives a sound) compared to untreated blades.

The MuTech team is based at TU Delft and supported by TU Delft and the BEST (Blade Extensions for Silent Turbines) project. Other participants in the BEST project include German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex, energy supplier Eneco, MundoNovo Sound Research, and the Deltawind Cooperation. The project is also partly funded by a renewable energy transition grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Written By: Lisa Magloff