The Effects of Wind Turbine Farms on ATC Radar
Abstract
The UK Government supports the introduction of wind turbine farms as part of its alternative energy strategy. However, Ministry of Defense (MoD) guidelines restrict planning consent for wind turbine farms within line of sight (LoS) from Primary Surveillance Radars and in close proximity to Royal Air Force (RAF) Airfields. The validity of these guidelines has been the subject of close scrutiny by the wind farm developers. Consequently, a trial was conducted by the Air Command and Control Operational Evaluation Unit (Air C2 OEU) in response to a tasking from Headquarters No 3 Group (HQ 3 Gp), to determine the effects of wind turbine farms on Air Traffic Control (ATC) Primary Surveillance Radars. Stage 1 of the Trial was a scoping exercise over the period 3-4 Nov 04, utilizing the Watchman radar at RAF Valley and the Trysglwyn and Rhyd-y-Groes wind turbine farms. Stage 2, the start of the main trial, was conducted in the period 23-25 Nov 04 utilizing the Llandinam (P&L) wind turbine farm in South Wales. A Watchman Radar was deployed to a privately owned site in Shropshire, slightly south of the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Radar Site at Clee Hill. This deployment provided medium-range data from within the main beam of the radar. Stage 3 was conducted during the period 13-14 Dec 04, again utilizing the P&L wind turbine farm but with the Watchman Radar on a soft-field site at Llanbister. This provided short-range data from within the auxiliary beam of the radar.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA466350