Wind Energy Planning

Key players in the UK wind energy market have pooled £3.2m ($4.7m US) to fund attempts to find a technical remedy for airport “radar clutter” caused by wind turbines.

The Aviation Investment Fund Company Ltd (AIFC) has been set up to specifically to fund the progression of possible solutions to the perceived problem of the visibility of wind turbines on radar screens.

The potential effects of wind turbines on airport and air defence radars is currently one of the key barriers to the roll out of wind energy projects in the UK. If a wind turbine is in line of sight of an airport radar and the blades are moving – a flash or “return” can often be seen on the radar screen. Many air traffic controllers do not like this as it creates a further element – in addition to the plane and other “returns” – for example lorries on high roads, to concentrate on.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) who is responsible for managing the fund claimed yesterday that resolving aviation issues would release enough projects to provide for the electricity requirements of a further 2.5 million homes. This figure is based on 4700 Megawatts of projects held up in the planning system due to military and civil aviation concerns.

Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive, said: “The Aviation Fund shows the wind industry’s commitment to resolve aviation objections as a barrier to further wind energy deployment. We have brought key parties to the table and have progressed negotiations from a Memorandum of Understanding last year, to the establishment of a fund management company to administer and oversee deployment of the funds raised.”

It is interesting to note that the issue of wind turbine visibility on radar screens is not perceived as a significant constraint in other European countries.

Further information on the Aviation Memorandum of Understanding and governance structure can be found on the DECC website