Wind Rush
The risk to aircraft radar and navigation systems
[ Note: February 2008]
There have been significant developments in this area. Go to Times Radar ]
The Journal, Newcastle
September 2007
RAF joins up for the war against turbines
Vital low-flying training for RAF fighter crews in the region will be jeopardised if plans for three wind farms in Northumberland are given the go-ahead, it was claimed last night.
The Ministry of Defence has formally objected to the three separate bids, which involve the erection of almost 60 giant turbines at Green Rigg Fell on the North Tyne, the Ray Estate near Kirkwhelpington and at nearby Steadings. MoD chiefs say the wind farms would have an “unacceptable impact” on flying operations controlled by the radar surveillance system at RAF Spadeadam on the Northumberland/Cumbria border. The base is the UK ’s only electronic warfare tactics range and is used to train RAF aircrews to evade radar-guided missiles and survive in hostile environments by using low-flying manoeuvres.
The MoD says it “strongly objects” to the three proposed wind farms as they will jeopardise the vital training facility which RAF Spadeadam provides. It has voiced its opposition in an outline statement submitted to a public inquiry to be held early next year, which will determine all three bids by Amec Project Investments (Ray Estate), the Banks Group (Steadings) and Wind Prospect Developments (Green Rigg Fell).
Last night it was also revealed that air safety fears have led to objections from Newcastle Airport and air traffic control and management company NATS. Along with the MoD, they say the 125m-high turbines will create “clutter” on radar screens and potentially conceal the presence of real aircraft. Last night a pressure group opposing the scale and impact of the three developments said the MoD’s intervention meant either the RAF training at Spadeadam had to stop or the turbines could not be built, as there could be no compromise on air safety. Today, a pre-inquiry meeting will be held in Hexham to pave the way for the full public inquiry into the three applications. Newcastle Airport ’s outline statement says each of the schemes is “highly likely” to interfere with its radar system. “ Newcastle Airport considers that all three proposals will have an unacceptable impact, both individually and cumulatively, on the safe and appropriate radar coverage at the airport,” it adds.
Last night Carol Brodie of Great Bavington, who chairs CREDIT (Campaign for Responsible Energy Development in Tynedale), said: “Local people have consistently raised the issue of military low flying in close proximity to wind turbines. “Anyone who spends any time in this area knows that military aircraft fly through the proposed wind farm sites at low level almost every day, often several times a day and sometimes after dark. Common sense should have told the wind farm developers that we cannot have aircraft flying at 100ft in constrained airspace at very high speeds, having to avoid 400ft wind turbines in their path.
“The situation is further exacerbated by the adverse effects which wind turbines have on radar performance. Either the flying needs to stop or the turbines don’t get built. There can be no compromise with safety of aircrews, air passengers and the people on the ground. “Despite all the assertions of the developers to the contrary, it is self-evident that these initial statements from the MOD, NATS and Newcastle Airport to the public inquiry show that the aviation issues are far from being resolved.”
None of the applicants could be contacted for comment yesterday.
Peter Bennet of Bellingham , from the Friends of the Wanneys protest group, added: “Local people are very concerned about the safety angle in all this because the RAF test flights are extremely low. Building these wind farms is going to leave a very narrow corridor for them to operate in and the risk of serious accidents must be high.”
By Dave Black
For information about existing and potential windfarm sites on both sides of the Scottish Border, go to http://www.windbyte.co.uk/
Of all the reasons to reject the current rush for wind, perhaps the risks to aircraft radar systems is the is the most serious, because of its life and death implications. There is no disputing the fact that the blades of wind turbines interfere with aviation radar . The technicalities are described in The Case Against Windfarms Section 15 .(www.countryguardian.net/Case TV Radar etc.htm)
The first big windfarm where this became an issue was at Keilder Forest , Northumberland in 2002. Openview Number 48 in 2006 contained some news items that are relevant to this issue, and can be found at MOD Radar issues for windfarms are soluble….perhaps (www.countryguardian.net/Radar.htm)
The following extract from a Press Release from Coldingham Stop the Turbines Action Group (www.coldinghamstag.org.uk) contains some fascinating material relevant to the Wind Rush phenomenon.
Coldingham STAG (Stop the Turbines Action Group) says building a wind farm on Coldingham Moor could put lives at risk due to the threat to aviation safety.
It is calling on Scottish Borders Council to reject a planning application by PM Renewables to build 22 wind turbines due to the possible radar interference and also the risk to low flying planes.
STAG member Raquel Simpson says: ‘NATS En-Route Ltd, (NERL), the body which safeguards aeronautical radio stations and is responsible for the St Abbs DVOR/DMA at Cross Law to the north east of the proposed wind farm site, has produced maps of the UK to help developers identify safe spots for wind farms. Their maps clearly show that even developments of 20 metres high in this area could be a threat to air safety. 1 The proposed wind turbines would be far in excess of this at 76 metres.’
The original plan for 16 wind turbines submitted by PMR caused some concern to NERL. In a statement to Scottish Borders Council they said: ‘Development within the proposed site at Drone Hill is likely to be objected to due to the proximity of the navigational beacon. The installation of wind turbines as described in the proposal is likely to have a significant impact on the navigational service provided by the beacon.’ 2 PM Renewables have since revised their proposal and increased the amount of wind turbines to 22.
Coldingham Moor falls within one of only three Ministry of Defence tactical training areas specially designated for low flying in the UK . These areas are used to give pilots experience of flying low to the ground.
George Matthews of Burnside Cottage on Coldingham Moor said: ‘ The Borders region has fast jets and Hercules aircraft which operate at 250-100ft. These regularly fly over Coldingham Moor. The wind turbines at the proposed site will be 250ft and could cause radar interference and be highly dangerous.’
For the rest of this article go to www.countryguardian.net/Coldingham Radar.htm
The links in the references at the end of the report are particularly interesting.
1 www.bwea.com/aviation/nats.html
2 NERL response to Scottish Borders Council, September 2005, quoted in Drone Hill Environmental Statement Addendum, P M Renewables, February 2007
3 Hansard, 22 March 2001,http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/
cmhansrd/vo010322/text/10322w05.htm#10322w05.html_spnew3
4 Windfarm impact on radar aviation interests’ , Department of Trade and Industry/QinetiQ Radar Study, September 2003
The reference to the BWEA website is a must. It shows maps of varying levels of radar interference problems for different turbines heights.
Finally, look at what is happening in France , where the national meteorological, civil aviation and defence authorities demand that the there must be a windfarm-free zone within 30km of a windfarm. As there are some 90 radars in France this covers most of the country. (www.countryguardian.net/France radar.htm)