As wind energy expands, making turbines larger and more efficient is helping generate more renewable electricity. However, larger turbines can also produce more low-frequency noise, creating challenges for nearby communities. New material innovations, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), are helping reduce this noise while maintaining turbine performance.
Flexible blade technology for quieter renewable energy
BASF has developed a flexible trailing-edge system designed to reduce the noise generated by wind turbine blades. Installed along selected sections of the blade, the flexible serrations help manage airflow where turbulence creates noise, reducing sound at its source while preserving aerodynamic efficiency.
The system is designed to be compatible with different turbine models and can be installed on existing turbines with limited downtime, making it suitable for both new and retrofit applications.
Wind tunnel validation and early field testing have shown noise reductions of around 3–6 decibels, with particularly strong improvements in low-frequency noise. On large wind turbine trials, reductions of approximately 3.7 decibels were observed. While this may appear to be a small change, a reduction of 3 decibels represents roughly half the acoustic energy and can make a meaningful difference for people living near wind farms, particularly during nighttime.
By reducing noise, the technology may also allow wind turbines to operate for longer periods with fewer nighttime restrictions, helping increase renewable electricity generation without major hardware modifications.
