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The Trials of Climate Change

RAF fly-pasts test new wind farm friendly radar systems

Wednesday 7th June 2006

The skies over Clatter mountain near Newtown in Powys, mid-Wales are the setting for unusual military manoeuvres as the MOD trials new technology designed to overcome interference on civil and military air traffic control radar.

The MOD is working with the DTI, the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) with support from National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to test two technologies from BAE Systems and Selex S.I. to see if they resolve problems posed by wind turbines. 

An MOD mobile Watchman radar has been located in an area of multiple wind farms and both the RAF and an independently appointed safety team are conducting calibrated trial flights.

If the technology is deemed fit for purpose it will free up a significant number of potential locations for wind farms across the UK that could contribute to the Government’s renewable energy target if developed.

 Minister for Energy Malcolm Wicks said: 

“The Government wants 10% of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010 and double that by 2020, with wind energy set to make a major contribution.  There are still hurdles to be overcome but one by one we are knocking down the barriers that could prevent us reaching that target. 

“A recently published NOP survey on behalf of the DTI found 81% of those polled supported wind farms but I recognise that they can be controversial and that is why it’s vital that we site them correctly.  Overcoming the complex and challenging issue of radar interference will increase our options.

“This interference is a problem that has to be overcome all over the world and the pioneering work being done in Wales puts the UK at the forefront of the technology, with the inherent business benefits that can bring.  It is encouraging to see government, industry and the military working closely together to find a solution.”

The location in Wales has been chosen as it is situated near four working wind farms - Bryn Titli, P & L (Llandinam), Cefn Croes and Carno A & B - of varying size, scale and model of wind turbines collectively providing a rigorous test for each technology. 

A selection of different RAF aircraft will be taking flights over the wind farms as the BAE Systems Advanced Digital Tracker (ADT) and the Sensis SPE-3000 processor track the flights.  In what is a challenging radar environment, the technology has been designed to register the aircraft among similar images (radar clutter) caused by the wind turbines' rotating blades.

Under Secretary of State for Defence Tom Watson said:

“We must sustain essential military activity in the UK, whilst fully supporting the Government’s renewable energy policy.  The rotating blades of wind turbines interfere with radar performance when the blades are in the line of sight of the radar, which is why we have to restrict their position.  We hope that as a result of these trials, an increased number of wind farms can be built, without any risk to the Armed Forces ability to train and operate in the UK.”

Chris Tomlinson, Director of Operations at BWEA is upbeat about the progress being made.  He said:

“This is a supreme example of Government working across departments and proactively engaging with industry to find solutions for mutual benefit.  All parties are investing resources in pursuit of these potential solutions that would allow the UK to expand renewable delivery to combat climate change and secure our energy supplies, while aviation safety and security remains paramount.

“This is an exciting time with all stakeholders eagerly awaiting the outcome of the trials, which if successful, will be a key factor in securing a 20% renewable energy target by 2020.”

 

Notes to Editors

Background to radar interference issue

Wind farms, within the line of site of radar, have the potential to interfere with radar systems and navigational aids used for civil Air Traffic Control as well as military Air Traffic Control and Air Defence radar. It has previously resulting in aviation community objections to a significant amount of onshore and offshore wind farm projects. This interference is not limited to radar in the UK, but in the UK, the aviation community are consultees within the planning process and can object when a proposed development puts the radar performance at risk.  Interference can arise from:

1.      Clutter - extraneous signal returns from wind farms

2.      Overhead obscuration - loss of radar plots displayed to the operator of aircraft flying above wind farms

3.      False tracks - erroneous or duplicate tracks created by returns from turbines or by reflected signals

4.      Shadow - areas in front of and behind wind turbines that radar cannot ‘see’ into

Interference is further complicated because it is site specific. It depends, for example, on the number of turbines, size and layout of the wind farm, type of wind turbines. type of radar, the local geography and it also varies with weather conditions.

In order to try and consider all aviation issues in a coordinated way, in 2001 the DTI established the Aviation Steering Group comprising of all major stakeholders that are concerned with aviation issues.  The aim of the steering group is to engage all affected parties to take responsibility to jointly resolve all radar issues in order to minimise the number of objections that currently exist, and also to free up large areas of land that is currently unavailable.

DTI

For more information on the renewable energy sector click here www.dti.gov.uk/energy/energy-sources/renewables/index.html

BWEA

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is the UK’s leading renewable energy association, with over 300 company members. Formed 28 years ago, BWEA is at the forefront of the development of the UK wind industry, representing the sector to Government, business, media and the public. It expanded its mission two years ago to champion the emerging technologies of wave and tidal stream power generation. Wind energy has now started a major expansion in the UK and will be the single greatest contributor to the Government’s 10% 2010 renewable energy target and 20% 2020 renewable aspiration. Together, wind, wave and tidal power can supply 21% of the UK’s projected electricity needs by 2020, resulting in over £16bn of investment in UK plc.

BAE Systems

BAE Systems have developed and tested a solution to mitigate the effects of wind farms on radar, both in air traffic and air defence systems. The Advanced Digital Tracker (ADT) can eliminate the false returns from wind farm turbine blades.  The ADT has been shown to be effective in mitigating wind farm effects and offers a simple "add-on" filter for new and existing radar systems.  ADT can be used as part of a "Toolkit" of techniques to allow the construction of wind farms to proceed in the confidence that their impact on radar can be mitigated. BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems’ sales exceeded GB £15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.

Selex S.I.

SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica company, is the European leader in the definition and integration of systems for defence, coastal and maritime surveillance and air traffic management. Its capabilities include systems for Homeland Protection, integrated air defence systems, battlefield C4I, naval combat management and air traffic management solutions. SELEX Sistemi Integrati has wide technology base supporting systems in control and surveillance and providing the capability for systems integration across the miltary and civil air traffic management spectrum.