[Present situation and research task on the assessment of psychological effects caused by low-frequency noise]

Wind power generation is one of the good solutions to ensuring a clean and sustainable energy source. In recent years, therefore, many facilities for wind power generation have been constructed in Japan. In contrast to its advantage, however, residents in some areas near a wind power generation site have complained that their well-being has been disturbed by noise from wind turbines. Wind turbines generate low-frequency noise, which can lead to adverse psychological effects such as annoyance. In Japan, the method of assessing appropriately the adverse effects caused by low-frequency noise has not been established. In this article, the characteristics and effects of low-frequency noise are outlined, and the present situation and research task on the assessment of psychological effects of low-frequency noise from wind turbines are presented.