Environmental Noise Assessment S4453.1C6...

Murra Warra Solar Farm and Battery Storage Facility Environmental Noise Assessment S4453.1C6 September 2017

Author Reviewer

Jason Turner (MAAS) Chris Turnbull (MAAS)

Jason Turner Associate Phone: +61 (0) 410 920 122 Email: [email protected] www.sonus.com.au

sonus.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Murra Warra Solar Farm Environmental Noise Assessment addresses the requirements of the

Victorian Planning Provisions by objectively assessing the noise from the proposed 235MW fixed

array solar farm and the 300MWh battery storage facility against the Noise from Industry in Regional

Victoria Guidelines (the NIRV).

A detailed noise model has been prepared for the proposed solar farm inverter/transformer layout

and battery cooling systems to enable noise predictions for the operation of the solar farm and

battery storage facility to be made and compared against the project’s assessment criteria.

Based on the above assessment, the Murra Warra Solar Farm and Battery Storage Facility will

achieve the relevant environmental noise criteria at all relevant receiver locations, and in turn, will

achieve the relevant requirements of the Victorian Planning Provisions.

The assessment will be repeated once the final solar inverter/transformer selection and battery

storage facility cooling system arrangement is known and any changes to the layout have been made

to ensure compliance with the project’s environmental noise criteria prior to construction.


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INTRODUCTION

Sonus has conducted an environmental noise assessment of the proposed Murra Warra Solar Farm

and Battery Storage Facility, located near Horsham, Victoria, based on the following data:

the proposed layout of the solar farm as detailed in Appendix A (providing the solar

inverter locations);

the location of existing residences within 2km of the proposed solar farm as detailed in

Appendix B;

A representative inverter comprising the SMA Solar Technology AG SC 2500-EV; and,

The understanding that a battery storage facility will be constructed comprising two

buildings, each with 127 off 50 kW roof mounted air conditioning systems.


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SITE LOCATION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Murra Warra Solar Farm and Battery Storage Facility is located approximately 32 kilometres due

north of Horsham in the Wimmera region of Victoria and is wholly within a Farming Zone (FZ). The

location is in close proximity to the proposed Murra Warra Wind Farm and will utilise its

infrastructure.

The primary land use in the region is broad acre cropping (wheat, barley, pulses, canola, etc;) with

some sheep grazing. The area is sparsely populated with only 4 inhabited dwellings within 2km of

the development.

The project will consist of a Solar PV facility of up to 235MW AC arranged as either a series of fixed

or tracker arrays. The arrays consist of approximately 900,000 1mx2mx0.05m PV panels mounted on

steel or aluminum racking. The PV modules for a fixed array are arranged to face north, however, for

a tracker array, the modules are arranged north to south with the panels tilting around a centre rail

to follow the sun’s trajectory throughout the day.

Solar Farm Site Battery Storage Area


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There will be a number of 7m wide graded tracks across the site to allow all weather access for

construction and operational maintenance. There will be a small control building and warehouse /

maintenance building at the entrance to the site.

Power from the panels will be inverted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) and then

transformed to 33kV and transported back to a central collector point located in the northwest of

the site close to the location of the control building and maintenance facilities. Power will then be

carried along a double circuit 33kV line which runs north then west (2km in total) of the solar farm to

the site of the proposed Terminal Station for Murra Warra Wind Farm. There will be a metering

point and some reactive power plant at the terminal station. Power will then be exported to the grid

via the wind farm 33kV to 220kV transformer.

The project will also include a 300MWh battery storage facility which will comprise of two purpose

built buildings which will house banks of Lithium Ion batteries and control equipment. The cooling

system for each building will comprise up to 127 off 50 kW roof mounted air conditioning units.

The project may include some stock proof fencing of up to 2m height and CCTV cameras depending

on the Solar Farms Insurance requirements.

There will be up to three temporary construction compounds across the site which will house

laydown areas, batch plant, offices etc. These facilities will be removed once work has been

completed and the land rehabilitated.

Noise producing equipment will comprise:

up to 90 inverter/transformer units which will be distributed throughout the solar farm with

an expected capacity not exceeding 2500kVA (dependant on final design selections); and

up to 127 roof mounted air conditioning units located on each of the battery storage

buildings with an expected capacity of 50kW each (dependant on final design selections).


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VICTORIAN PLANNING PROVISIONS

State Planning Policy Framework Section 13.04-1 Noise Abatement

The Section ensures that development is not prejudiced and community amenity is not reduced by

noise emission. Where relevant, the Section requires the Interim Guidelines for Control of Noise from

Industry in Country Victoria (Environment Protection Authority, 1989) to be considered.

State Planning Policy Framework Section 19.01-1 Renewable Energy

The Section promotes the provision of renewable energy development in appropriate locations, to

meet the community demand for energy services.

Particular Provisions Section 52.42 Renewable Energy Facility (Other than a Wind Energy Facility

and Geothermal Energy Extraction)

The Section states that an application must be accompanied by a design response which includes a

report detailing an assessment of “the potential amenity impacts such as noise...”.


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ASSESSMENT

Clause 13.04-1 in the State Planning Policy Framework makes reference to the Interim Guidelines for

Control of Noise from Industry in Country Victoria (Environment Protection Authority, 1989), which

have since been finalised and released in October 2011 as the Guidelines for Noise from Industry in

Regional Victoria – Publication 1411 (NIRV).

The NIRV provides recommended maximum noise levels based on the planning zone of the noise

source and noise receiver. Based on the “Farming Zone” location of both the solar farm and the

relevant residences, the most stringent (i.e. lowest allowable noise level) criterion which could be

applied becomes 36 dB(A) LAeq1.

The criterion has been derived based on the night time noise limits of the NIRV, given that sunrise

may occur prior to 7am for some periods of the year. Applying the night time criterion which

assumes continual operation between 10pm and 7am every night of the year is therefore a

conservative approach when considering that the inverters will predominantly operate during the

day time period only.

1 This criterion corresponds to the recommended night-time (10pm to 7am) noise level for a noise source

which can operate continuously over a 24 hour period.


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METHODOLOGY

The assessment methodology incorporates:

predictions of noise levels from the combined operation of the solar inverter/transformer

units and the battery storage facility cooling systems at occupied dwellings;

comparison against the project’s assessment criterion of 36 dB(A).

Predictions

Noise from the solar farm has been predicted based on the representative use of 2.5MW SMA

inverter/transformer units. The proposed layout consists of 90 units with the coordinates of each

given in Appendix A.

The Sound Power Levels for the 2.5MW SMA Sunny Central 2500-EV inverter/transformer units are

detailed in SMA “White Paper BU-U-019: Sunny Central” Sound Power Measurements on SC 2200 (-

US), SC 2500-EV central inverters. The octave band frequency data are derived from a range of

publically available data for similar inverter systems. The assumed sound power level for each

2.5MW inverter/transformer unit is summarised in the table below;

Table: Assumed sound power spectrum for inverter/transformer units

Inverter/Transformer Rating

SWL (dB) for each Octave Band Centre Frequency Total SWL

(dB(A)) 63 Hz 125 Hz 250 Hz 500 Hz 1 kHz 2 kHz 4 kHz

2.5 MW 86 90 96 89 85 81 73 92

The above sound power level data has been used for indicative purposes to show that the proposal

can comply with the conservative project assessment criterion. Variations to the indicative layout

are unlikely to noticeably increase operational noise levels at the nearest residence, given that small

changes in distance relative to the distance to a dwelling will have a negligible influence on the

predicted noise levels. Notwithstanding, a final assessment will be required prior to the

commencement of construction to confirm compliance with the project criteria based on the final

inverter/transformer selection and locations.


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The predictions also include the noise from 127 air conditioning units serving each of the battery

storage buildings. The noise level has been predicted based on manufacturers’ total sound power

level data for the indicatively selected Mitsubishi Electric “PURY-P450YSLM-A (-BS)” units and the

octave band spectrum for similar units, as summarised below:

Table: Assumed sound power spectrum for air conditioner units

Air Conditioner

Cooling Capacity

SWL (dB) for each Octave Band Centre Frequency Total SWL

(dB(A)) 63 Hz 125 Hz 250 Hz 500 Hz 1 kHz 2 kHz 4 kHz

50 kW 59 71 75 77 76 75 74 86

The above sound power level data has been used for indicative purposes to show that the proposal

can comply with the project assessment criterion. As is usual at this stage of a project, the final

cooling equipment has not been the subject of detailed design nor has it been procured. A final

assessment will be required prior to the commencement of construction to confirm compliance with

the project criteria based on the final cooling system selection and locations.

The predictions have been conducted without a penalty for the presence of tonal characteristics. To

provide certainty with respect to tonality, it is recommended that a guarantee is sought from the

relevant manufacturers that the final inverter/transformer and cooling unit selections do not result

in a penalty when assessed in accordance with the NIRV.

ISO 9613-2:1996

Noise predictions were conducted using the propagation model, ISO 9613-2:1996 “Acoustics –

Attenuation of sound during propagation outdoors” (ISO 9613). This noise propagation model is

widely accepted as an appropriate model for the assessment of renewable energy facilities. The ISO

9613 model has the ability to take into account the distance between the source and receiver,

topography, hardness of the ground and atmospheric absorption at different frequencies.

The ISO-9613 model is based on “meteorological conditions favourable to propagation… These

conditions are for downwind propagation…..or, equivalently, propagation under a well developed

moderate ground based temperature inversion” (ISO-9613).


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The assessment has been based on the following inputs:

10°C temperature;

70% relative humidity;

100% acoustically soft ground; and,

1.5m receiver height.


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RESULTS

The predicted noise levels from the solar farm have been assessed against the conservative project

assessment criterion provided by the NIRV.

The following table compares the predicted noise level from the cumulative operation of the

inverter/transformer units and the cooling units against the assessment criterion for each residence:

Residence Assessment Criterion

dB(A) Predicted Noise Level

dB(A)

H38 36 27

H40 36 25

H61 36 32

H161 36 30

The predicted noise levels easily achieve the criterion of 36 dB(A) at all assessed locations, and as

such the proposed solar farm and battery storage facility will not adversely impact on the amenity of

residences. The noise predictions are shown graphically in Appendix C as a grid noise map.

CUMULATIVE NOISE IMPACTS

The NIRV does not apply to the operation of a wind farm facility and there is no requirement to

assess the cumulative noise level from wind turbines and other noise sources under the relevant

wind farm guidelines.

Notwithstanding the above, the cumulative noise level from both the wind farm (at the wind speed

corresponding to the highest noise level) and the solar farm and battery storage components is

provided below.

Wind Farm

The wind farm noise assessment has been separately conducted in Sonus Report S4453C25 dated

June 2016.

For indicative purposes, the wind farm noise criterion is provided and compared with the cumulative

noise levels of the wind farm and solar farm; however, it should be noted that the criterion applies

to the wind farm operation only.


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sonus. Residence

Wind Farm Assessment Criterion

dB(A)

Predicted Noise Level dB(A)

H38 40 35

H40 40 36

H61 40 39

H161 40 39

Based on the above, the solar farm does not prejudice the ability of the wind farm to achieve its

separate assessment criterion.

Substation

The substation noise assessment has been separately conducted in Sonus Report S4453C25 dated

June 2016 against the NIRV.

For indicative purposes, the substation noise criterion is provided and compared with the cumulative

noise levels of the substation and solar farm; however, it should be noted that the criterion applies

to the substation operation only.

The substation noise criterion is 36 dB(A). The highest noise level predicted at a residence from the

substation is 29 dB(A) at H161. A cumulative noise level of 33 dB(A) is predicted from the combined

operation of the substation and solar farm at H161.

Based on the above, the solar farm does not prejudice the ability of the substation to achieve its

separate assessment criterion.


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CONCLUSION

An environmental noise assessment of the proposed Murra Warra Solar Farm and Battery Storage

Facility has been undertaken.

The assessment considers the proposal comprising up to 90 representative SMA Sunny Central solar

inverter/transformer units and up to 127 representative Mitsubishi air conditioning units on each

battery storage building.

The proposal has been assessed at residences in accordance with the application requirements of

the Victorian Planning Provisions using conservative assessment criteria developed from the Noise

from Industry in Regional Victoria (NIRV) to ensure “appropriate siting and design considerations are

met” and “community amenity is not reduced by noise emissions”.

The currently proposed layout and selections are predicted to easily achieve the NIRV at all

residences within the vicinity with no specific acoustic treatment or mitigation measures.

Whilst the application requirements of the Victorian Planning Provisions do not require a cumulative

noise assessment of the solar, battery and wind farm proposals, the potential impacts have been

considered. It is predicted that the solar farm and battery storage facility will not prejudice the

ability of the wind farm and substation to achieve their respective requirements.

A final noise assessment will be conducted to confirm compliance with the project criteria when the

final inverter/transformer unit and battery storage air conditioning unit selections and locations are

known and guaranteed sound power levels are provided by the manufacturers at the procurement

stage.


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APPENDICES

Appendix A: Location of Operational Noise Sources

Inverter ID

Coordinates (UTM WGS84 54H)

Easting Northing

1 619733 5964106

2 619989 5964106

3 620246 5964106

4 619733 5964223

5 619989 5964223

6 620246 5964223

7 619733 5964340

8 619989 5964340

9 619166 5964457

10 619391 5964457

11 619733 5964457

12 619989 5964457

13 619166 5964574

14 619391 5964574

15 619818 5964574

16 619989 5964574

17 619166 5964691

18 619391 5964691

19 619647 5964691

20 620075 5964691

21 620246 5964691

22 619166 5964808

23 619391 5964808

24 619647 5964808

25 619989 5964808

26 620246 5964808

27 619166 5964925

28 619391 5964925

29 619647 5964925

30 619989 5964925

31 620246 5964925

32 619166 5965042

33 619391 5965042

34 619647 5965042

35 619989 5965042

36 620246 5965042

37 619166 5965159

38 619391 5965159

39 619647 5965159

40 619989 5965159

41 620246 5965159

42 619166 5965276

43 619391 5965276

44 619647 5965276

45 619989 5965276

Inverter ID


Easting Northing

46 620246 5965276

47 619166 5965393

48 619391 5965393

49 619647 5965393

50 619989 5965393

51 620246 5965393

52 619166 5965510

53 619391 5965510

54 619647 5965510

55 619989 5965510

56 620246 5965510

57 619166 5965627

58 619391 5965627

59 619647 5965627

60 619989 5965627

61 620246 5965627

62 619166 5965744

63 619391 5965744

64 619647 5965744

65 619989 5965744

66 620246 5965744

67 619391 5965861

68 619647 5965861

69 619989 5965861

70 620246 5965861

71 619391 5965978

72 619647 5965978

73 619989 5965978

74 620246 5965978

75 619391 5966095

76 619647 5966095

77 619989 5966095

78 620246 5966095

79 619391 5966212

80 619647 5966212

81 619989 5966212

82 620246 5966212

83 619562 5964457

84 619818 5966212

85 619647 5964574

86 619904 5964691

87 619818 5966095

88 619733 5963989

89 619989 5963989

90 620246 5963989


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Appendix B: Dwelling Locations within 2km of Solar Farm

Residence ID


Easting Northing

Associated Residences

H38 621382 5965014

H40 621613 5965564

H61 618770 5966114

H161 617959 5966346


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APPENDIX C: Grid Noise Map

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