German boffins use "anti noise" to silence wind turbines

The dull hum that emanates from many wind turbines could soon become a thing of the past thanks to a group of German researchers who claim to have developed a new sound muffling technology capable of cutting noise levels by an estimated 50 per cent. Engineers at the at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden claim to have developed an automated noise absorber designed to stop vibrations from a wind turbine's gear box reaching the surrounding tower and being amplified. They are now looking to talk to turbine manufacturers about undertaking field tests for the technology.