Ministry of Defence (MOD) objections to over 3 GW of UK offshore wind farms have been resolved further to years of discussion and new funding.
The 5 offshore wind farms off the east coast of England in the Greater Wash were considered to pose a conflict with air defence due to the potential for wind turbines to show up on the MOD’s radar screens. However cash has been stumped up by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and the wind industry to buy a new TPS77 radar which has the ability to screen out the wind turbines.
The radar is already used in 150 locations around the world and has been proven to be able to filter the returns on the screen caused by moving wind turbines.
RenewableUK, Head of aviation policy Nicola Vaughan said: “Working together with government, the wind energy industry has proved that obstacles to such developments can be overcome in the interests of the UK as a whole; we look forward to continuing progress in other areas where opportunities for developing groundbreaking offshore wind energy schemes would enable further significant advances towards the UK’s renewable aspirations.”
