Regulation 131F requires WEF operators to prepare an annual statement to document the performance of the WEF over the previous financial year and provide the statement to EPA within four months of the end of each financial year.

In accordance with regulation 131F, the annual statement must include:

• details of any complaints concerning wind turbine noise received by the operator and how the complaints were addressed
• evidence that turbine operating modes complied with any relevant requirements contained in the facility’s authorising document under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (for example, where turbines were curtailed, if that was required) 
• details of any maintenance activities, including any unscheduled servicing events
• details of any noise remediation actions undertaken.

The annual statement must also demonstrate whether the wind turbine noise complied with the required noise limits or applicable alternative monitoring point criteria.

WEF operators should take a risk-based approach to selecting the most appropriate method to demonstrate compliance, based on their assessment of the risk of harm from noise emissions from the WEF to determine a proportionate response. For example, where the annual statement can demonstrate the WEF is operating with no material change to the conditions that existed when it was last tested (and supplemented by the five-yearly periodic monitoring and verification report) and maintenance was undertaken according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule of maintenance, the WEF may not require additional measurement or analysis of onsite WEF sound levels to demonstrate compliant operation. 

Methods to demonstrate compliance, depending on the level of risk, may include one or a combination of:

• desktop review 
• report on the completion of scheduled maintenance procedures 
• review of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) control system operational data
• measurements at a reference or alternative monitoring point
• nearfield noise measurements
• measurement at critical noise sensitive areas
• actions taken to address specific compliance issues if relevant, including curtailing noise emissions. 

Factors for WEF operators to consider when deciding on the extent and type of information to be included in the annual statement include:

• margin of noise limit compliance established through noise assessments
• noise sensitive areas 
• separation distances 
• predictive noise levels
• history of complaints
• exceedance of noise limits during the period.