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If you ever stood close to such a huge windmill, you might have realized that they are actually pretty loud. Even if you're inside a house, there is a constant noise from these windmills, day and night. I understand that they are necessary to meet the goals for renewable energy production, but I see the point of the residents living close to them.

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I've stood right under a big one on a reasonably windy day and my shock was at how quiet it was.

I wonder if older ones were louder?

Yeah, older ones had some issues with the blade geometry iirc which caused a fairly penetrating "Wump" noise which people complained about. There's a big one in the town I live in, and people were complaining that the low frequency noise it was generating was impacting quality of life.

I presume that's something which has been optimised away with newer designs?

I find this very difficult to believe. I have been very close (~100 ft) to a "huge" windmill. I did not find it loud in any way at all.

Being as generous as possible to the claim (although I agree it’s probably bollocks) — being near a turbine turning means you’re also in a windy environment, which would drown out lower power sounds while you’re outside. Inside, that masking sound is absent, and a lower-power sound might be perceptible. Maybe.

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