17 Jul 2006 | Ref. 195/2006
Farnborough, United Kingdom. - BAE Systems is helping to remove planning objections that are hindering the growth of renewable energy generation in the UK. The Company has developed and tested a solution to mitigate the effects of wind farms on radar, both in air traffic control and air defence systems.
Wind farms within the line of site of radar have the potential to interfere with radar systems and navigational aids. The UK aviation community, which is consulted for safety reasons as part of the wind farm planning process, has objected to proposed developments that can potentially impair radar performance.
Interference to radar from wind farms can arise from clutter (extraneous signal returns from wind farms), overhead obscuration (loss of radar plots displayed to the operator of aircraft flying above wind farms), false tracks (erroneous or duplicate tracks created by returns fro turbines or by reflected signals) or shadow (areas in front of and behind wind turbines that radar cannot see into).
BAE Systems’ Advanced Digital Tracker (ADT) eliminates the false returns from wind turbine blades and offers a simple ‘add-on’ filter for new and existing radar systems. ADT can be used as part of a toolkit to allow the construction of wind farms to proceed in the confidence that their impact on radar can be mitigated. In partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence, the UK Royal Air Force, the Department of Trade and Industry and the British Wind Energy Association, BAE Systems has undertaken comprehensive trials during 2005 and 2006 using a military Watchman Air Traffic Control radar.
The data obtained from these trials is being used to provide necessary evidence for operational safety cases required for each installation of this technology. The company has also undertaken trials at a regional airport on a different radar type.
The Watchman trials took place at a site with four wind farms in Mid-Wales. The data captured represents the largest set of operational radar/wind farm measurements in the world to date. These measurements are analysed against the performance requirements provided by both civil and military sectors. One of the key trials successfully tracked an RAF Hawk during a high G force manoeuvre over the Carno wind farm in Powys.
Clive Richardson, managing director for BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte), said: “Radar interference from wind farms is clearly a hurdle we need to overcome. Wind energy looks set to make a major contribution to the UK Government’s aim for 10-per-cent of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010. Our Tracker technology successfully removes unwanted wind farm returns from radar displays and effectively tracks aircraft over wind farm areas.”
Chris Tomlinson, Director of Operations at the British Wind Energy Association said: “This is a supreme example of Government working across departments and 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.”
An independent report into the ADT trials is due to be published in September.
About BAE Systems:
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.
For further information please contact:
Sue Kennard, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1276 603265 Mob: +44 (0) 7801 712739
sue.kennard@baesystems.com
John Neilson, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0)1252 384 795, Mob: 07802 337 704
john.neilson@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
