Another downside to wind farms above and beyond the large amounts of coal and oil they consume:
"Clutter Free Wind Farms"
Aviation Week & Space Technology Apr 19 , 2010 , p. 14
Edited by Patricia J. Parmalee
Though wind farms are generally considered to be a green mine of energy conservation and renewable resources, military personnel are increasingly concerned about a dark side—the disruption or blocking of radar designed to detect threats. Both the FAA and U.S. military have sounded alarms, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command is organizing a radar obstruction evaluation team. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, the U.K., which has extensive offshore wind energy resources in place, also is aggressively working on solutions. Toward that end, Lockheed Martin will deliver a long-range air surveillance radar system that overcomes sensor performance issues commonly caused by the rotating blades of wind turbines. The advanced electronics of the TPS-77 radar (above) mitigate interference or “clutter” that can obscure radar targets. The new system will provide air defense surveillance capabilities for the Defense Ministry and clear the way for installation of 924 turbines along England’s east coast. Surveillance would cover five planned wind farms in the Greater Wash Strategic Area—Sheringham Shoal, Race Bank, Dudgeon, Triton Knoll and Docking Shoal. Under contract with the U.K.’s Serco Defense, Science and Nuclear Group, the U.S. company will deliver the new TPS-77 system by November 2011. Serco has been Lockheed Martin’s in-country contractor logistics support partner for the Defense Ministry’s FPS-117 (Type 92) radars. TPS-77 has been tested at land-based wind farms in Cazenovia, N.Y., and Horns Rev in the North Sea.
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William
"Clutter Free Wind Farms"
Aviation Week & Space Technology Apr 19 , 2010 , p. 14
Edited by Patricia J. Parmalee
Though wind farms are generally considered to be a green mine of energy conservation and renewable resources, military personnel are increasingly concerned about a dark side—the disruption or blocking of radar designed to detect threats. Both the FAA and U.S. military have sounded alarms, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command is organizing a radar obstruction evaluation team. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, the U.K., which has extensive offshore wind energy resources in place, also is aggressively working on solutions. Toward that end, Lockheed Martin will deliver a long-range air surveillance radar system that overcomes sensor performance issues commonly caused by the rotating blades of wind turbines. The advanced electronics of the TPS-77 radar (above) mitigate interference or “clutter” that can obscure radar targets. The new system will provide air defense surveillance capabilities for the Defense Ministry and clear the way for installation of 924 turbines along England’s east coast. Surveillance would cover five planned wind farms in the Greater Wash Strategic Area—Sheringham Shoal, Race Bank, Dudgeon, Triton Knoll and Docking Shoal. Under contract with the U.K.’s Serco Defense, Science and Nuclear Group, the U.S. company will deliver the new TPS-77 system by November 2011. Serco has been Lockheed Martin’s in-country contractor logistics support partner for the Defense Ministry’s FPS-117 (Type 92) radars. TPS-77 has been tested at land-based wind farms in Cazenovia, N.Y., and Horns Rev in the North Sea.
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William
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