| Title | TE MIHI GEOTHERMAL POWER STATION – FAR-FIELD NOISE MITIGATION TO THE TE MIHI COOLING TOWERS |
|---|---|
| Authors | D. Morrison |
| Year | 2017 |
| Conference | New Zealand Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | Cooling Tower, Noise |
| Abstract | The Te Mihi geothermal power station is located within a rural / lifestyle area with inherently low levels of background noise. The resource consent compliance requirements have a 40dBLAeq night time noise limit at the closest neighbours. Following commissioning of the power station, complaints from some of our closest neighbours to the north-west of the power station were received. This case study reviews the investigation and subsequent implementation of mitigations to the Te Mihi cooling towers to modify a narrow band tonal component of far-field noise. Assessing the actual noise emissions from Te Mihi proved to be particularly challenging because the actual measured emissions were very close to the background noise levels. Addressing neighbour concerns and managing a noise budget to maintain a noise buffer for other steamfield activities is important so as to maintain our social license to operate and / or expand the geothermal generation from the Te Mihi field. |