Government and industry join forces to find clear path for wind farms

Flight trials have commenced to demonstrate a technical solution that if successful, will be used to iron out objec-tions to wind farms from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and individual air-port operators. This research could have a positive impact by freeing up a significant number of potential wind farm sites that are currently sterilised. The project is essential in helping to meet Government targets for renew-able energy by 2010 and beyond while helping to meet the UK’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. Aviation safety is paramount, to the extent that any wind farm proposal in line of site of radar is opposed because it cre-ates a false positive on a radar screen. This effect is caused by the rotating blades which can mimic an aircraft as they move at speeds of up to 200mph at the blade tip.

Government and industry have been working together to better understand the cause of the radar impact for several years but this is the first time they have come together with a potential mitigation solution. The Depart-ment of Trade and Industry (DTI) and BWEA members are financially supporting BAE Systems to lead the science behind the technology, known as the Advanced Digital Tracker (ADT). BAE Systems are experts in radar techno-logy and have designed and built the majority of both air traffic control and air defence radars in the UK. The ADT will be fitted to a portable radar provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The mobile air traffic control radar is being temporarily sited in mid Wales.

The site in Wales has been chosen for the trials as it is situated in the region of four working wind farms of vari-ous sizes, scale and models of wind turbines which will collectively provide the most rigorous test for the techno-logy. Various types of aircraft will then fly over the wind farms and the ADT will be investigated to establish whether the radar can register the aircraft while not cluttering the screen with similar images caused by the wind turbines’ rotating blades.

A range of stakeholders from both the military and civil radar communities have been working with BAE Systems on this project, and will witness the trials in Wales. The results obtained will then be analyzed at BAE Systems. The results of the trials will be available by October 2005. If successful, the ADT could be on the market to tackle site specific wind farm issues by the end of 2006.
Welcoming the initiative, UK Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks said: “We now have a well established collaborative programme of work aimed at enabling wind energy and aviation activities to co-exist in safety. The precautionary approach taken by aviation stakeholders up until now has quite rightly prevented the construction of any inap-propriately sited wind farms, but it has also meant that wind farms cannot be developed in many locations be-cause of the presence of radars. The combined efforts of the wind industry, aviation sector and the Government will I hope soon result in more locations where wind energy can sensibly be developed, a welcome step forward in the programme to combat climate change."

MOD said: “The MOD is fully supportive of the Government’s renewable energy targets and has undertaken its own research to assess the effects of wind turbines on military radar. We are very pleased to be able to assist with these trials which are aimed at producing a solution which may help turbines and radar exist in closer prox-imity and, consequently, hopefully reduce the number of proposed turbines which with we raise concerns at the pre-planning stage.”

Chris Tomlinson, Head of Onshore Wind at BWEA, said: "This is the first major step towards developing a tech-nology that can tackle the interaction of wind turbines and radar which currently leads to the sterilisation of a significant number of many potential wind farm sites. The commencement of the flight trials is a signal of ever strengthening links between Government departments and the wind industry as we work together to help meet the renewable energy targets, vital to meeting the UK’s obligations to the Kyoto Protocol."

Clive Richardson, Managing Director, BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte), said: “BAE Systems are committed to the resolution of the radar interference issues, and are continuing to invest in technology that will help meet the UK’s obligations to Kyoto. This project allows formal engagement of all key stakeholders, and a ‘joined up’ approach to the resolution of this important area.”