Rotor blades for wind power installations are known in many different
forms. In a wind power installation the rotors or the rotor blades
thereof represent the main source of sound. For reasons relating to
acceptance and noise prevention laws, the aim should/must be that of
minimizing the levels of sound emission as wind power installations are
often also set up in the proximity of residential accommodation. The
levels of sound emission which hitherto occur with a wind power
installation or a wind power converter also mean that wind power
installations are faced with resistance from populated areas because of
the sound they produce and for that reason such installations can be
accepted sometimes with difficulty or not at all as authorities
responsible for planning permission refuse permission for wind power
installations because of the existing environmental requirements, noise
also being an environmentally polluting factor. Therefore the object of
the invention is further to improve the noise emission of wind power
installations. Wind power installation rotor blade comprising means for
reducing the sound produced by a rotor blade, wherein the means is formed
by a fluid-repellent layer and/or surface which is provided at least on a
surface portion of the rotor blade.