Medication data show no link between wind farm and "syndrome"

A survey of four towns in Victoria and South Australia has shown that the symptoms of “Wind Turbine Syndrome” -- a collection of adverse health effects that have been associated with low frequency noise from wind turbines -- are experienced no more frequently near wind farms than in comparable areas. The research, lead by Head of the University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine Professor Gary Wittert, is yet to be published, but was covered by ABC News here, and featured in Monday’s Four Corners program, “Against the Wind.”

Wittert used Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data to map the prescriptions of medications for sleeplessness, blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions, and found that these conditions are no more prevalent within 10 km of wind farms at Waubra, Yambuk, Snowtown and Hallett Hill than in control areas with similar demographics. This defies the expectations of those who argue that prolonged exposure to high levels of low frequency noise and infra-sound can cause adverse health effects up to 10 km from a wind farm.

Wind Turbine Syndrome, which encapsulates a range of symptoms such as sleeplessness, high blood pressure, migraines, depression, tinnitus and nausea, was defined by American paediatrician Dr Nina Pierpont in her 2009 book of the same name, based on a voluntary study of 10 families (38 subjects) in 5 countries. In Australia, the campaign has been led by Dr Sarah Laurie, an unregistered GP from South Australia and the Medical Director of the Waubra Foundation. Dr Laurie’s research so far (summarised here) is based on interviews with 60 subjects, mostly residents living near wind farms.

The worrying findings of Pierpont and Laurie have so far been based on small samples of voluntary respondents, and sceptics are quick to point out that no residents with wind turbines on their property have made health complaints. This year’s federal Senate inquiry into The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms cited literature reviews by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 2010, and by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and Canadian Wind Energy Association (CWEA) in 2009, which both found no suggestion in the existing research for a positive link between wind farm noise and adverse health effects. Neverthless, the Inquiry and NHMRC did recommend further research.

Based on Laurie’s findings, the Waubra Foundation calls for health studies in the form of residents’ personal health journals and ongoing noise monitoring. These studies may yield valuable data, but will take many years to deliver viable scientific conclusions. But if vibration and low frequency noise from wind farms cause adverse health effects, any number of historical data records should reflect the systematic increase of these symptoms in the area of wind farms. As Wittert points out, we have up to 25 years of experience of living and farming around wind farms in Australia, and over 30 years internationally:

If exposure to wind farm noise was the cause of these severe health effects in humans and livestock, historical records should be sufficient to show the link. While acting as an expert witness for wind farm developer Acciona, Wittert conceived of an elegant method for quantifying the geographical and historical prevalence of these health effects. Before undertaking the study, he explained his planned methodology to the Senate inquiry:

In contrast with the dozens of voluntary respondents featured in Pierpont’s and Laurie’s studies, the PBS data account for more than 10,000 subjects near four different wind farms. This kind of geostatistical study removes questions of selection bias, and allows for quantitative comparison within each community before and after the installation of the wind farm, and against comparable communities without wind farm developments.

Given the health complaints of dozens of residents near wind farms, the NHMRC and Senate inquiry, alongside the Waubra Foundation, are right to call for more research. But the aims of that research, its methodology and the tone of its discussion in the community, deserve some scrutiny. Wittert’s study, based on historical data collected for an independent purpose, shows no link between proximity to wind farms and prevalence of the expected symptoms of Wind Turbine Syndrome. The methodology is straightforward, and the academic report is unlikely to be inflammatory. By contrast, the kind of small scale studies carried out by Pierpont and Laurie -- based on interviews and personal health diaries -- privilege the most dramatic accounts of aggrieved residents, and provide powerful anecdotes for emotive media coverage.

This focus on the subjective and emotional often pushes the actual science to the end of the article, without advancing knowledge about the issue. At the height of the Senate inquiry Professor Simon Chapman of the University of Sydney vented some frustration with a cutting analysis at the ABC's The Drum. In this context, Wittert's study is a welcome contribution to the scientific discourse. As he said to the Senate inquiry, “there is also an awful lot of anxiety being generated, and it would be nice to have some objectivity and rationality around it.”

The Australian IT article on Cyclopic Energy

As we mentioned last time, Cyclopic Energy has been attracting some attention in the last few months for our use of cloud computing services to deliver complex wind simulations for the wind energy and construction industries.

So we were pleased when Ian Grayson, a leading Australian IT journalist who has been covering cloud computing closely, contacted Rick Morgans to research an article featuring us for The Australian. “Super computers when you need them” is a special report in today's issue of The Australian IT, and we think it sheds some light on the practical aspects of our business, explaining the tools we use to deliver very large, high resolution wind simulations in a matter of days.

This has been a good opportunity to catch up with Ian Grayson's broader coverage of cloud computing, and other IT news, both in The Australian and at his blog Hydrapinion.

BRW Features Cyclopic Energy on Cloud Computing

Cyclopic Energy has attracted significant attention in recent months as an example of a new Australian company making innovative use of cloud computing. Jeanne-Vida Douglas of BRW recently spoke to Rick about the benefits of on-demand supercomputing facilities:

“When Rick Morgans and Damien Leclercq set out to turn what they knew about engineering, modelling and wind into a business in 2008, they knew their success would depend on being able to punch above their weight and deliver highly professional services to some of the largest companies in Australia.”

The article focuses on the advantages of cloud computing to small, smart businesses: low costs and high performance, with a high degree of flexibility. When needed, Cyclopic Energy spin up a battery of high-performance instances which execute large Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations on demand. We use these dynamic and scalable supercomputing services facilitated by Amazon Web Services to deliver high quality wind modelling and analysis services at low cost.

As Rick says: “it's enabled us to compete with much larger companies and deliver high-fidelity simulations we would never otherwise been able to afford. What it means is we can grow without spending on extra computing power.”

You can read the full article in the April 21st edition of BRW, or electronically here (with a subscription).

Wind Farms: What Causes the Angst?

Former rural GP Dr Sarah Laurie has fast become the spokesperson for the anti-wind movement. She has embarked on a mission to travel the country roads of Australia, spreading the message that low frequency noise and vibration from wind farms will destroy the health and livelihoods of the local residents. The subsequent angst has consumed otherwise peaceful communities with suspicion, anger, and psychological stress. That some people genuinely feel affected by nearby wind farms is accepted, but to this date the causes remain largely unexplained.
Dr Laurie's roadshow recently made a stop in a seminar room at the University of Adelaide, where the audience was largely made up of researchers, academics, engineers and students. Despite attempts at giving the presentation a scientific feel, the poorly constructed argument - an emotional mix of hearsay, frightening anecdotes presented as scientific evidence, misrepresented research papers, and heart warming pictures of babies and cute animals - did not stand up to the ensuing questions. Most were met with admissions of insufficient knowledge, absence of proper studies, and a lack of evidence.
Dr Laurie will probably keep travelling around the country, raising the spectre of Wind Turbine Syndrome in communities who trust a well meaning country doctor, thus seeding deep anguish and psychological stress on fertile ground. Interestingly enough, the symptoms of the so-called Wind Turbine Syndrome that Dr Laurie describes are similar to those of the deep anguish and psychological stress that her presentation will understandably cause. Is it ethically right for someone who claims to be a caring medical practitioner to disrupt entire communities based on anecdotes and unproven allegations? One would think not. Unfortunately, the AMA is in no position to regulate this; Dr Laurie is unregistered.
If you ever come across Dr Laurie or any of the Wind Turbine Syndrome apologists, do yourself a favour: seek an alternative, professional opinion before making up your mind. The alarmist, bite-sized message is easy to understand and quite effective. Actual facts are generally more nuanced and boring, but at least they let you sleep at night.

Innovate SA Focuses on Cloud Computing

At Cyclopic Energy, we use cloud computing to mobilise supercomputing resources on demand. This allows us to run large Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations in volume and at short notice, without maintaining expensive computing infrastructure locally. This has revolutionised the way we deliver high resolution CFD analysis, and we're constantly exploring ways the cloud can make our services faster, cheaper and more efficient.

Cloud computing promises opportunities for new and existing services. To facilitate new innovation in this area, Innovate SA has dedicated a Product Commercialisation Case Study Seminar to helping South Australian companies understand how the cloud can advantage their business. Our Technical Director, Dr Rick Morgans, will be speaking about Cyclopic Energy's innovative use of cloud computing at the Seminar on 4 April.

To register for the Product Commercialisation Case Study Seminar, or to read more about Innovate SA, click here.

Cyclopic Energy case study: Amazon Web Services

Our wind simulation technology is based on high-resolution Computational Fluid Dynamics, which we use to create detailed simulations of the wind flow around the site of interest and its surrounds. This process needs large numbers of very big computers, and we make extensive use of cloud computing-based supercomputing resources to deliver accurate simulations in an accelerated timeframe. Our provider of cloud computing services, Amazon Web Services, has recognised our innovation in this area, and recently completed a case study on us.

Read Amazon Web Service's case study here.

We're always excited to improve our tools, and we're constantly working to develop services for wind power and the built environment. Read more about our services here.

Please contact Cyclopic Energy to discuss how we can assist you to develop a safe and successful wind turbine installation.

Cyclopic Energy opens Melbourne office

Cyclopic Energy is expanding! This week we opened a new office in the Melbourne CBD, giving us a permanent presence in both our Adelaide, Pirie Street, and Melbourne, Market Street, offices. Cyclopic Energy have delivered a number of projects in Victoria and many of our clients and partners have bases in Melbourne, so we're looking forward to using this opportunity to build our relationships, and a stronger small wind industry for Australia.

Contact details for the new office have been updated, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Federal Government has responded to feedback from industry, announcing the Enhanced Renewable Energy Target (ERET) Scheme. The changes, to be affected from January 1 2011, will isolate incentives for utility-scale renewables from those offered to households who invest in small wind and solar systems.The adjustment is a move to stabilise the price of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which has fallen sharply following the introduction of Solar Credits scheme for small generation units.

The Renewable Energy Target (RET) Scheme is a market-based mechanism to drive Australia's electricity supply toward a target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020. Under the scheme electricity retailers must meet a mandatory Renewable Power Percentage (RPP) each year, a requirement they can fulfil by purchasing sufficient RECs at market price; each Certificate represents 1 MWh of renewable energy.

The Solar Credits scheme, introduced in June 2009, applied a 5-times multiplier to the RECs deemable against the first 1.5 kW of small wind, solar or hydro systems. An unintended consequence of this market-based system, which was designed to replace direct Federal rebates, was a severe drop in the price of RECs and a subsequent loss of investor confidence in large-scale renewable projects. In recent weeks both Pacific Hydro in South Australia, and Roaring 40s in Tasmania, had announced holds on wind farm projects as a direct result of falling REC prices.

The Enhanced Renewable Energy Target Scheme stabilises the REC market by separating incentives for small generation units (SGUs) from the market system which applies to utility-scale generators and retailers. The Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) will continue trading RECs at market price, and will meet the majority of the renewable energy target by 2020, while RECs earned by small generation units will be sold at a fixed price of $40 per MWh under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).

The adjustment is expected to restore confidence in the REC market and re-start progress on utility-scale wind farms, while increasing incentives in the small wind and rooftop solar markets. To learn more about the Enhanced Renewable Energy Target Scheme, read the Department of Climate Change Fact Sheet.

The CleverGreen&trade Conference and Showcase is a Government of South Australia initiative which brings together leaders in the cleantech industry from government, research, industry and enterprise. This week's Conference included the Hon. Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia; Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change; and the Hon. Jay Weatherhill, Minister for Environment and Conservation.

CleverGreen&trade Innovators to Watch Service Awards

In addition to presenting a stand at the Showcase, Cyclopic Energy was nominated for the CleverGreen&trade Innovators to Watch Award for our industry-leading services in wind resource analysis and small wind turbine micrositing. The Awards were announced at the Conference Dinner, and while we were not the winners on the night, the event was a great success. The Service Award was presented to Hames Sharely Architects, while the Product Award went to AquaSpy.

The South Australian Government has introduced a new incentive for investment in large scale renewable energy projects in the state, announcing tax rebates for companies investing in wind farms and solar projects above 30 MW in scale. A payroll tax rebate of $1 million for wind farms, and up to $5 million for solar projects, will be given for labour costs related to direct on-site construction starting after July 1 2010. The tax exemptions will be available for four years, driving investment in utility-scale renewables toward South Australia's goal to generate 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2014.

Premier Mike Rann announced the plan yesterday from Copenhagen, where he is chairing a states and regions committee on climate change as part of the ongoing UN summit.

Cyclopic Energy has been recognised as a leader in the cleantech sector, with the announcement of the finalists for the CleverGreen&trade Innovators to Watch Service Awards. The award will be presented to two South Australian companies identified as having developed an industry-leading product or service. Cyclopic Energy delivers robust scientific wind data analysis and flow modelling processes, as part of a cost-effective and highly scalable service to drive successful integration of small wind technology world-wide. Read more about our services here.

For more information about the Innovators to Watch finalists read The Advertiser's article and the forthcoming company profiles.

The inaugural award is part of the CleverGreen&trade Conference and Showcase to be held on 15 and 16 February 2010 in Adelaide. Cyclopic Energy will be one of several South Australian companies displaying products and services at the Showcase. CleverGreen&trade is convened by the Government of South Australia's Department for Trade and Economic Development as a means to foster cooperation and innovation across all levels of government, research and business in South Australia's cleantech industry.

Detroit Small and Community Wind Expo a success!

Our Directors Damien and Rick spent a week at Detroit's Small and Community Wind Exhibition and Conference, where they made contact with key manufacturers, distributors and consultants in North America's vibrant small wind industry. The American Wind Energy Association recorded a 78% growth in the US small wind market over 2008, and with on-going federal and state incentive schemes in the United States and Canada, North America is an exciting market to be involved with.

Unlike commercial scale wind farms, small and mid-scale wind installations often go ahead without detailed analysis of the local wind resource. Cyclopic Energy has identified a strong potential for our services in wind resource assessment and wind turbine micro-siting in the North American market, and we look forward to working with suppliers and consultants to develop quality wind power solutions internationally.

New South Wales switches to gross Feed-in Tariff, includes small wind

The New South Wales Government has announced its new Solar Bonus Scheme, covering small wind turbines and replacing the previous net metered model with a gross Feed-in Tariff. Under the new scheme all electricity generated by wind or solar systems with rated capacity under 10 kW will earn a 60 c/kWh tariff, not just the excess power exported to the grid. The new Solar Bonus Scheme has extended coverage in NSW to small wind turbines up to 10 kW, a significant shift from solar-only incentives. The Solar Bonus Scheme will last for seven years, providing significant incentives for the small wind industry in the state.Read more about the NSW Government's Solar Bonus Scheme here.

The announcement makes NSW the second government in Australia to adopt a gross Feed-in Tariff, after ACT; all other states have announced or implemented net Feed-in Tariff schemes. The South Australian Government is currently reviewing its Solar Feed-In Scheme, which recently saw installed capacity of eligible solar PV systems reach 10 MW; one consideration is extending the tariff to include small wind turbines, a move which would be a major boon for the small wind industry in South Australia.

Damien Leclercq and Rick Morgans have arrived in Detroit for the first annual Small and Community Wind Exhibition and Conference, hosted by the American Wind Energy Association. More than a hundred of the world's leading companies in the small to mid-scale wind industry will be exhibiting for the three day event, which is the first of its kind in North America. The conference series includes information sessions, side meetings, and workshops, with topics ranging from the economics of community-driven wind developments to emerging technologies in the design and micro-siting of small wind turbines.

Cyclopic Energy is hosting a booth at the event, where we are presenting our small wind energy services to the North American market. We are looking forward to building partnerships with small wind turbine manufacturers, distributors and energy consultants who could add value to their developments with our specialised small wind energy feasibility studies, wind monitoring and micro-siting services. You can read more about our services here, or download our services flier.

Read more about the AWEA Small and Community Wind Expo here, and be sure to keep checking our news page for further updates as the event continues.

Solar Shop Australia, a major provider of residential-scale renewable systems, has stopped selling wind turbines. Citing the necessity of on-site wind resource monitoring and the difficulty of turbine siting, Solar Shop explained that, unlike solar systems, "wind power requires careful consideration and specific site information in order to ensure optimal performance." Read the statement here.

Cyclopic Energy agrees. Detailed site modelling and on-site wind monitoring are the foundations of our approach, and should be the primary concerns of anyone considering an investment in on-site small wind generation. Read about our robust approach to wind resource measurement and wind turbine siting here.

This year the first annual American Wind Energy Association Small and Community Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition will be held in Detroit, Michigan. Cyclopic Energy will be hosting a booth at the Exhibition, which is a world-leading event for manufacturers and suppliers of small wind turbines, consultants and service providers for renewable energy projects, and businesses and governments interested in wind energy projects.

Read more about the AWEA Small and Community Wind Expo here.

All Energy is a world-leading exhibition and conference event which has been held in the UK since 2000. The first annual All Energy Australia Exhibition and Conference was held this October 6-8 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and Cyclopic Energy hosted a booth.

The event was an opportunity for manufacturers and distributors, installers, service providers, clients and all levels of government to exhibit, shop, and exchange ideas in all areas of alternative and renewable energy technologies, from 'clean coal' to tidal power. Lectures and discussions were held throughout the two days, hosted by leaders in their fields.

Click here for more information on All-Energy Australia '09, and for details on next year's event.

The Fifth Estate is an online magazine providing news and networking with a focus on the sustainable built environment.