New research into aviation objections could free up 5 GW of wind energy

Wind turbines are detected on radar displays and can be a distraction for air traffic controllers – which is why aviation objections from NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services) are currently holding up over 5 GW of wind energy in the planning system and a further 5.5 GW in early stages of development.

Aviation objections are one of the main causes of wind planning applications being rejected or withdrawn in the UK.

The 19 month research and development programme launched by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband at the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) conference yesterday, aims to mitigate the effects of wind turbines on the NATS En Route primary radar infrastructure, working with Raytheon Canada, the suppliers of the NATS systems.

The project is being supported by £5.15 million of funding – £1.6 million from wind companies (through the Aviation Investment Fund Company), £2 million from the Crown Estate and £1.55 million from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). 

Commenting on the project, NATS director development and strategy, Ian Hall, said: “NATS is delighted to be at the centre of a project to support the UK’s renewable energy target and we welcome the funding to enable us to continue our work in this sector. The investment is a significant step and our experts will work with Raytheon to examine the potential of this approach.”

Simon Christian, project director at ScottishPower Renewables and chair of the Aviation Investment Fund Company added: “This is one of the most exciting developments for the potential removal of aviation objections, and we are very pleased to have instigated it.”

Although the Raytheon solution has the potential to fix the En Route radar problem, the BWEA points out that issues still remain with MoD radar. 

To address these problems, the Aviation Investment Fund Company has also recently committed to fund a MoD and IBM study for expanding the UK Air Defence and Ground Environment Command and Control System (UCCS) to accept air traffic control radar feeds as wind farm mitigation.

Announcing the launch of the research project yesterday, Miliband said: “I know that delays in the planning process can cause uncertainty and be a barrier to investment in renewables and there are specific issues in connection with aviation and radar that need to be addressed.”

Today it was once again demonstrated just how much of a barrier the planning process is proving to be. New research issued by the BWEA shows that wind farm planning approvals by local councils have slumped to a record low of 25 per cent – down from 63 per cent in 2007.

Speaking at the BWEA conference where the report was launched, Rt Hon John Prescott MP, said: “It is absolutely scandalous that three quarters of all planning applications for onshore wind turbines are turned down. We cannot let the vocal minority stop our move to a low carbon economy and stop us meeting our global emissions targets.”

Earlier in the week the former Deputy Prime Minister had criticised "landowners and nimbys" and called for local councils to identify potential wind farm sites in their area – an intervention that was welcomed by Friends of the Earth's energy campaigner Nick Rau.

"Councils must understand that they have a vital role to play in cutting UK greenhouse gas emissions and delivering green energy,” he said.

"New planning guidance is desperately needed which sets renewable energy targets for local authorities across the country.”

Although the planning process is clearly putting the breaks on new wind farm developments, the BWEA said today that the capacity of operational wind farms in the UK will reach a record 4 GW of installed capacity for the first time this week.