The Aviation Investment Fund Company Ltd (AIFC) will look at R&D solutions to the problem of wind turbines being detected on radar displays. When rotating, wind turbine blades show up on radar displays, which is of concern to both military and civil radar operators. The AIFC has already identified a number of mitigation technologies likely to yield a solution.
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Currently 4.7 GW of wind energy projects are held up in the planning system due to military and civil aviation concerns, according to BWEA.
Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive, says: “The Aviation Fund shows the wind industry’s commitment to resolve aviation objections as a barrier to further wind energy deployment.”
In June 2008 the wind sector and major stakeholders with an interest in aviation issues such as the Ministry of Defence and NATS En Route, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting out how the UK Government and industry will work together to overcome radar challenges.
Further information on the Aviation Memorandum of Understanding and governance structure can be found on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website.