AonP

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3300737.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3300814.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3300736.ece

Fairly accurate as well, apart from the graphic showing Faeros and Saxa Vord as radar installations! Also the great Type 102 gets a mention but not its in service date or what is going to replace the 3rd servicable Type 93 at Staxton Wold.

ORAC

I must be getting old, I actually thought that said servicable Type 93....

NorthSouth

AonP:Yeah right. I particularly liked
NS

danieloakworth

Good article in the Times. This problem is not being helped by the complete lack of consistency by MoD, and the fact they seem to think they can ride roughshod over everybody.

NorthSouth

DO:That's cos they CAN!
NS

danieloakworth

They can't. And the raft of public enquiries they've managed to get caught up in is going to hurt them. Starting in Northumberland where they are trying to block a, previously approved, windfarm, that they'd mis-plotted by 60 miles.

NorthSouth

Jury is still out on whether any of these inquiries will hurt them. It's a brave planning inspector who decides the MoD has to accept some operational penalty in the interest of energy policy.
NS

danieloakworth

True, but the question is whether there is actually a real operational impact.

NorthSouth

$64,000!
Ns

SWBKCB

Wonder how they cope in Leipzig...

http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=727842

aviate1138

"In a report published on 10March, the UK-based Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) reveals that electricity from offshore wind farms, currently the most viable renewable source, will cost at least twice as much as that from conventional sources.

The independent study, commissioned from international energy consultants PBPower, puts all energy sources on a level playing field by comparing the costs of generating electricity from new plants using a range of different technologies and energy sources.
The cheapest electricity will come from gas turbines and nuclear stations, costing just 2.3p/kWh, compared with 3.7p/kWh for onshore wind and 5.5p/kWh for offshore wind farms."

Not being a Greenie I notice that peak demand for electricity is usually when it is really cold or really hot and that is usually when we have a big High sitting over the UK. Also when wind speeds are often non existent! New Nuclear power at the touch of a switch is the way to go.

BillS

Lots of new evidence from NATS, MoD and NIAL here:
http://www.persona.uk.com/tynedale/Aviation.htm

MoD are now introducing issues resulting from disruption of Threat Radar training systems.

concordski

Don't make a big deal on your precious radar, it won't stop the government hitting it's renewable obligations. NATS and the MOD will always object where they feel they need to. Radar is really not a big issue for the consultants that design them. The visual aspect is the killer, but even chopped up raptors will drop a wind farm dead far easier. The masses don't care for radar returns, only their easy-appreciated views.

One of said consultants, not yet had a windfarm dropped on radar grounds (3+ yrs).

PS. If you don't want one, go and rent a few great crested newts the day before the site gets an ecology survey.

RotorDompteur

"No conflict between radar and wind turbines"

A couple of weeks ago the Royal Danish Air Force conducted some tests in cooperation with Royal Air Force. The purpose was to test whether the offshore wind turbines at Horns Rev would cause any unwanted effects in relation to the TPS-77 radars to be used by the Royal Danish Air Force.

Different aircraft, including British Hawks flew various patterns to unveil any false signals or other undesirable effects caused by the turbines.

All preliminary analysis of the test results indicate that the turbines do not cause any problems in relation to the radar coverage.

Link to the news article by Royal Danish Air Force: (Danish only)
Ingen konflikt mellem radar og møller

RD

Marco

At what height is it mandatory to have some sort of anti-collision light fitted?

NorthSouth

60m offshore, 150m onshore.
NS

WindFarmer

A few comments that may be of use:

I work for a company called Pager Power that assists wind farm developers that have radar issues. www.pagerpower.co.uk

CAA Guidance - There is CAA, MOD and wind industry guidance (somewhat dated) which gives a useful overview http://www.bwea.com/pdf/Wind-Energy-...guidelines.pdf. There is also a more recent CAA policy and guidance document on windfarms CAP764 http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Cap764.pdf

Operational Impact - On a more practical note I received the following ATC message whilst receiving a RIS (Radar Information Service) in Cumbria "Possible slow moving traffic, unknown altitude, x miles ahead - could be a wind farm". We kept our eyes peeled and flew on.

SSR - There appears to be no real impact on SSR although SSR radar are normally safeguarded for wind turbines to 5km or more in the United Kingdom.

Overseas - There are more than 40 large wind turbines within 10km of Kastrup airport in Copenhagen and there is a similar number of turbines in the industrial area of Amsterdam, to the north of Schipol. The UK generally takes a more cautious approach to wind turbine radar safeguarding than other countries.

Lighting - Almost all onshore turbines in Britain are unlit. Where they are lit there are two medium intensity red lights mounted on top of the nacelle.