Methodological Guidelines Assessment of the Visual Impact of Wind Turbines on the Landscape

Abstract

Visual impact of wind turbines located in the region Anykščiai is analyzed in the paper. The main aim of the paper is after comparison of theoretical sizes of visual influence zones and degrees of visual significance with the results of empirical research, to establish possible ways of elaboration of methodology of visual impact assessment establishing visual influence zones. The main results of the research are established major factors of visual impact of wind farms, sizes of zones of visual influence and character of visual impact in different zones of visual influence.

The schemes of the nature of impact by degrees do not change: 1 – visually dominant, 2 – partially dominant, 3 – highlights, 4 – subdominants, 5 – background elements.

Even though the blade-tip height of the major wind turbines (up to 150-230 m) are observed at the distance of 30 km at good visibility, the visual effect on the landscape is produced only by background elements located at the distance of 15-20 km.