GREEN campaigners have welcomed the successful testing of a radar system
which could resolve safety concerns over installing wind turbines near
airports.
The technology was tested at a wind farm near Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire
last week which proved its ability to detect the difference 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 produced by
having a wind farm close by.
Holographic radar developer Aveillant said that if further tests are
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 wind-farm
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.”
Mr Banks 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.”
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