Download Vestas' letter - Waubra Foundation
Suite 413, { Queens Road Melboume, VIC 3004 MelboumePhone(03)90056661 SydneyPhone(02) 8003 5rt46 BrisbanePhone(07) 3A4O0226 PerthPhone(08)6102 1211 www.translalionz.com.au
Vestus Karen Ellemann,Minister of Environment Departmentof Environment Hojbro Plads4 1200CopenhagenK
[Stamp:RECEIVED BY TI{E DEPARTMENT 30 JLrNE20111 Date Randers,29 June201l/erkjs
Dear Karen Ellemann, Following previouscorrespondence, I am writing this letter to expressmy concernregardingthe limits for low frequencynoise from wind turbinesnow being proposed. Back in January2011 we applaudedyour announcementof the new regulationsregardinglow frequencynoise and the fact that you also then emphasisedthat thoseregulationswould not be tightened and that it was a questionof improving the securityin connectionwith the installationof wind turbines.Accordingly, the reaction from the industrybranchback in January2011 was positive,althoughas an industrywe were uneasyabout having heavierdemandsimposedon us than other industries. When the new regulationswere then publishedon 26.05.2011,we were of courseconvincedof your initial point of view. As a result,we were extremelysurprisedto find that the proposednew regulationsdo in fact include a significantand severetighteningof the previousnoiseregulations. In fac! accordingto our analyses,the most economicalturbines,the 3 MW category,arethe onesthat will be stronglyaffectedby the new rules.This appliesto openterrain in particular,where in future low frequencynoise will dictateand increasethe distancerequirementsto neighboursfor closeto half ofthe projectsthat we are alreadyawareof over the next 2to 3 years. In a small country suchas Denmarkthis meansthat a significantnumberof projectswill not be viable asthe increaseddistancerequirementscannotbe met whilst maintaininga satisfactorybusinessoutcomefor the investor. The Danishmarketfor wind turbinesis of minor importancefor Vestasin termsof sales,typically lessthan 17o of our salesper year.However,the Danishmarketprovidesa numberof other functionsfor Vestaswhich are of in 2010 - still a considerablevalue from a businesspoint of view. By meansof its high wind penetration,24a/o world record- Denmarkhas a role as a forerunnercountry anda full scalelaboratorvfor conversionto renewableenergy. This meansthat other countriesoften look to Denmarkwhen adjustingtheir legislationregardingwind energy. We are thereforeconcerned- justifiably so as history shows- that the proposedDanishregulationsfor low frequencynoisefrom wind turbineswill spreadto a largenumberof other marketswith much higher commercialimpact for Vestasand consequentlyfor employmentin the business. The Danishwind turbine industry employsapprox.25,000peoplein Denmarkand boastsan exportwhich is about 8.5o/oof total Danishexports.Such"over-proportional"presencehasbecomepossiblebecauseDenmark VestasWind SystemsA/S ,
Alsvej 21,8940 RandersSV, Denmark Ph..+4597300000,Fax: +45973A0001,[email protected],www.vestas.com Bank Nordea Bank AlS, Reg. No. 2100, Account No. DKK .., [illegible] CompanyReg. No.: l0 40 57 82 Company Reg. Name: Vestas Wind systems
Suite 413, I QueensRoad Melbourne,VIC 3004 MelbournePhone(03)90056661 SydneyPhone(0p)80035446 BrisbanePhone(07) 3040 0226 PerthPhone(0q il02 121'l www.translalionz. com.au
Vestas Page
2/2 hasbeenable to createthe conditionsfor good correlationbetweendemonstration,educationand industry researchand development.In reality we fear that the demonstrationelementwill suffer irreparabledamaggas a result of the new regulationsregardinglow frequencynoise.When combinedwith the imminent dangertllat importantmarketswill copy the new Danishregulations,I considerthe new regulationsto be extremely damagingto the prospectsof further popularisationof land-basedwind energy. At this point you may haveaskedyourselfwhy it is that Vestasdoesnot just makechangesto the wind turbines sothat they producelessnoise?The simpleansweris that at the momentit is not technicallypossibleto do so, and it requirestime and resourcesbecausepresentlywe areat the forefront of what is technicallypossiblefor our largewind turbines,andthey arethe mostefficientof all. In the light of this it seemsstrangethat the wind turbineindustryis beingdiscriminatedagainstcomparedto other industries.All other industriesare subjectto differential noiserequirementsregardinglow frequencynoise for night and day (20, respectively25 dB), whereasthe wind turbine industryare subjectto requirementsof 20 dB 24 hoursa day. The proposedlow frequencylimit valuesmay hinderthe developmentof onshorewind in Denmark,including meetingour commitmentsin relationto the EEC. Ultimately,we considerthereis a dangerthatthe regul4tions will be copiedby othercountriesand accordinglythis will providean obstacleto the popularisation of wind energyat a globallevel.Both issueswill damageVestasasa business,includingaffectingDanishactivities. Yours sincerely, VestasWind systemsA/S ISignature] Ditlev Engel Chief ExecutiveOfficer Alsvej 2l,DK-8940 Dir. +45 9730 0000, www.vestas.com
A copy of this letterwas sentto Lykke Friis, Minister for Climateand Energy
End of Translation I believethis to be a true and accuratetranslationof the documentbeforeme"from Danish y me to the best of my knowledge and understanding. ation, no warrant is given as to the authenticityor otherwiseof the sourcedocumentrpesenled. ,O u(rt*t
Perth,16December201I
Vestus Karen Ellemann,Minister of Environment Departmentof Environment Hojbro Plads4 1200CopenhagenK
[Stamp:RECEIVED BY TI{E DEPARTMENT 30 JLrNE20111 Date Randers,29 June201l/erkjs
Dear Karen Ellemann, Following previouscorrespondence, I am writing this letter to expressmy concernregardingthe limits for low frequencynoise from wind turbinesnow being proposed. Back in January2011 we applaudedyour announcementof the new regulationsregardinglow frequencynoise and the fact that you also then emphasisedthat thoseregulationswould not be tightened and that it was a questionof improving the securityin connectionwith the installationof wind turbines.Accordingly, the reaction from the industrybranchback in January2011 was positive,althoughas an industrywe were uneasyabout having heavierdemandsimposedon us than other industries. When the new regulationswere then publishedon 26.05.2011,we were of courseconvincedof your initial point of view. As a result,we were extremelysurprisedto find that the proposednew regulationsdo in fact include a significantand severetighteningof the previousnoiseregulations. In fac! accordingto our analyses,the most economicalturbines,the 3 MW category,arethe onesthat will be stronglyaffectedby the new rules.This appliesto openterrain in particular,where in future low frequencynoise will dictateand increasethe distancerequirementsto neighboursfor closeto half ofthe projectsthat we are alreadyawareof over the next 2to 3 years. In a small country suchas Denmarkthis meansthat a significantnumberof projectswill not be viable asthe increaseddistancerequirementscannotbe met whilst maintaininga satisfactorybusinessoutcomefor the investor. The Danishmarketfor wind turbinesis of minor importancefor Vestasin termsof sales,typically lessthan 17o of our salesper year.However,the Danishmarketprovidesa numberof other functionsfor Vestaswhich are of in 2010 - still a considerablevalue from a businesspoint of view. By meansof its high wind penetration,24a/o world record- Denmarkhas a role as a forerunnercountry anda full scalelaboratorvfor conversionto renewableenergy. This meansthat other countriesoften look to Denmarkwhen adjustingtheir legislationregardingwind energy. We are thereforeconcerned- justifiably so as history shows- that the proposedDanishregulationsfor low frequencynoisefrom wind turbineswill spreadto a largenumberof other marketswith much higher commercialimpact for Vestasand consequentlyfor employmentin the business. The Danishwind turbine industry employsapprox.25,000peoplein Denmarkand boastsan exportwhich is about 8.5o/oof total Danishexports.Such"over-proportional"presencehasbecomepossiblebecauseDenmark VestasWind SystemsA/S ,
Alsvej 21,8940 RandersSV, Denmark Ph..+4597300000,Fax: +45973A0001,[email protected],www.vestas.com Bank Nordea Bank AlS, Reg. No. 2100, Account No. DKK .., [illegible] CompanyReg. No.: l0 40 57 82 Company Reg. Name: Vestas Wind systems
Suite 413, I QueensRoad Melbourne,VIC 3004 MelbournePhone(03)90056661 SydneyPhone(0p)80035446 BrisbanePhone(07) 3040 0226 PerthPhone(0q il02 121'l www.translalionz. com.au
Vestas Page
2/2 hasbeenable to createthe conditionsfor good correlationbetweendemonstration,educationand industry researchand development.In reality we fear that the demonstrationelementwill suffer irreparabledamaggas a result of the new regulationsregardinglow frequencynoise.When combinedwith the imminent dangertllat importantmarketswill copy the new Danishregulations,I considerthe new regulationsto be extremely damagingto the prospectsof further popularisationof land-basedwind energy. At this point you may haveaskedyourselfwhy it is that Vestasdoesnot just makechangesto the wind turbines sothat they producelessnoise?The simpleansweris that at the momentit is not technicallypossibleto do so, and it requirestime and resourcesbecausepresentlywe areat the forefront of what is technicallypossiblefor our largewind turbines,andthey arethe mostefficientof all. In the light of this it seemsstrangethat the wind turbineindustryis beingdiscriminatedagainstcomparedto other industries.All other industriesare subjectto differential noiserequirementsregardinglow frequencynoise for night and day (20, respectively25 dB), whereasthe wind turbine industryare subjectto requirementsof 20 dB 24 hoursa day. The proposedlow frequencylimit valuesmay hinderthe developmentof onshorewind in Denmark,including meetingour commitmentsin relationto the EEC. Ultimately,we considerthereis a dangerthatthe regul4tions will be copiedby othercountriesand accordinglythis will providean obstacleto the popularisation of wind energyat a globallevel.Both issueswill damageVestasasa business,includingaffectingDanishactivities. Yours sincerely, VestasWind systemsA/S ISignature] Ditlev Engel Chief ExecutiveOfficer Alsvej 2l,DK-8940 Dir. +45 9730 0000, www.vestas.com
A copy of this letterwas sentto Lykke Friis, Minister for Climateand Energy
End of Translation I believethis to be a true and accuratetranslationof the documentbeforeme"from Danish y me to the best of my knowledge and understanding. ation, no warrant is given as to the authenticityor otherwiseof the sourcedocumentrpesenled. ,O u(rt*t
Perth,16December201I
