A radar system which could resolve safety concerns over windfarm schemes near airports has been welcomed by environmental campaigners.
The technology had tests at Prestwick Airport last week which proved its ability to distinguish between aircraft and the movement of turbine blades, which it can block out on air traffic control screens.
Existing systems are unable to identify each turbine with the same level of accuracy and airports are concerned about the crowded screens which would be produced by having a windfarm close by.
Holographic radar developer Aveillant said that if further tests were successful the new system could be operating commercially by the end of the year.
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said: “Un-blocking the many windfarm schemes currently held up by concerns about radars and airports would be a major boost to Scotland’s plans to generate all its electricity from pollution-free sources.”
He added: “Concerns by airport operators are not the only thing holding back Scotland’s renewable ambitions.
“We hope the Ministry of Defence are paying close attention to these tests, as their almost blanket opposition to wind turbine applications is seriously hindering the deployment of renewables.”
The radar was demonstrated on turbines at Millour Hill windfarm near Prestwick and further details of the tests and the technology’s potential are expected to be announced by Cambridge-based firm Aveillant this week.
The new technology got £500,000 in funding from the Aviation Investment Fund Company Limited, a consortium of windfarm developers working to find solutions to problems involving airports.
Its chairman, Simon Heyes, who witnessed the trials, said: “It certainly takes us a step forward to our goal of getting windfarms constructed where they currently are held up by objections from airports.”
Aveillant chief executive David Crisp said: “This is the first live demonstration of the radar and it has gone fantastically well.
“We have had very good feedback from windfarm developers and the Civil Aviation Authority and will be doing more detailed risk assessments to meet the CAA’s standards.”
Recommended for you
