Radar Impact Assessment Enabling Wind Farms Market Context Protecting Radar Across the world countries continue to embrace technology for both onshore and off shore applications.

However, the presence of wind turbines can significantly impact the effectiveness of radar systems used across the meteorology, aviation and marine industries.

All too often radar objections block or delay not only new wind farm developments, but also the of existing ones, where the new, often larger, turbines deployed are considered to pose a greater impact risk.

Consistent methods for modelling the potential impacts of wind farm developments on radar are critical.

Decisions regarding development feasibility, or the proposal of relevant mitigation solutions, can only be made based upon accurate data.

Over the past 15 years QinetiQ has accumulated extensive knowledge and experience in delivering independent expert analysis and advice, to both wind farm developers and radar safeguarders, enabling wind farm developments whilst protecting the integrity of radar systems.

Your support in getting the two turbines approved at a planning appeal was excellent given that getting the radar element right was a critical part of the development. Was very impressed by the way this was managed by the Radar Impact Assessment team. David Connell, Loganwood Wind Ltd QinetiQ’s RIA team utilises state- of-the-art modelling software and Impact Assessment & Mitigation analytical expertise to take into account all relevant factors and scenarios, accurately demonstrating to developers and radar operators whether or not issues are likely to exist with planned developments.

If any conflicts are predicted, QinetiQ’s RIA team can provide independent advice to both parties on the potential solutions to mitigate the impacts.

Following identification, QinetiQ can also provide prototype design of the viable mitigation solutions, through to the detailed technology development and deployment of the final solution.

If assessment is undertaken early in the project development, planning timescales can be significantly reduced and the likelihood of This was a challenging project and the condition for permission being granted increases. Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) restricted construction. This early engagement can deliver Thanks to your model we were able to show that the impact on significant time and cost savings to the SSR was manageable. developers and stakeholders. Colin Brown, Business & Development Manager,

QinetiQ’s advanced Radar Impact Assessment (RIA) techniques are capable of accurately modelling the

Wind farm potential impact any wind farm construction will have Multipath Zone on radar effectiveness.

Wind turbines can block radar The impact of a wind farm on radar signals or cause interference that is and telecommunication systems unacceptable to the radar operators. must be assessed before planning Reflections from the moving blades consent is given. The cumulative can have the appearance of aircraft impact with existing turbines and Measured NOAA Data CLOUDSiS Simulated Data and often cannot be filtered from other objects in the environment the radar display. must also be considered. Figure 1: The images above show the impact of the Maple Ridge Wind Farm Development on the radar system of the Fort Drum US Army Military reservation in Jefferson County, . On the left is the actual measured data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whilst on the right is the modelled data from the COUDSiS simulation, clearly demonstrating that CLOUDSiS accurately predicted the impacts. Mitigation Solutions CLOUDSiS: A Proven Methodology

QinetiQ do not only assess the severity of a problem, but work closely with both The QinetiQ CLOUDSiS solution can Radar mitigation the wind farm developer and the radar safeguarder to find a solution. be deployed for both new wind farm projects and those where repowering solutions are an These fall into three distinct areas: assessments are required, where old turbines are replaced with new, often essential part of – Wind farm mitigation solutions: changes to the proposed development larger ones to optimise the power Protecting the Weather Forecast including layout optimisation, or turbine design even including QinetiQ’s output. the radar impact successful stealth turbine design which absorbs radar waves When Météo-France engaged QinetiQ, approximately 6 gigawatts of – Radar mitigation solutions: such as processing upgrades or ‘blanking and In each assessment case, the planned windfarms were being blocked due to meteorological concerns assessment. infill’, the practice of ‘blanking’ affected radars and then ‘infilling’ these gaps CLOUDSiS solution is able to model that the installations may cause weather radar impacts. with signals from unaffected radars to create a complete, accurate picture both turbine occultation (when one object is hidden by another) and In an attempt to break this deadlock, the French Government passed a law – Operational mitigation solutions: these can be the most costly and include radar reflectivity, whilst taking into allowing private contractors to conduct independent impact assessments. diverting aircraft around wind farms to avoid radar impacts account complexities such as the effects of antenna beam shape, If they can prove the accuracy of their predictions they receive validation terrain screening, energy diffraction from the Government and their recommendations can be legally and multipath reflectivity. recognised in consideration of planning applications. QinetiQ has demonstrated that, using expertise and technology originally developed for military applications, it is possible to The maps created are specific to QinetiQ’s CLOUDSiS radar impact assessment software is the first method accurately model the effect that a proposed site will have on turbine type, terrain interaction and to receive full Governmental validation by the Direction Generale de la meteorological readings. shielding, whilst areas where turbines Prevention des Risques (DGPR) and France’s national weather authority, are visible from the radar but have no Météo-France.* Dr Thierry Le Gall, Technology Exploitation Manager, impact are also highlighted. QinetiQ achieved this by modelling the impact of two operational wind These models can then be used to farms on the Abbeville weather radar in Normandy, northern France. The identify areas where a particular modelling was compared with real observations from the radar. turbine type is acceptable. It is this analysis that is specifically suited to This test confirmed that CLOUDSiS was able to model potential impacts to identifying viable development areas meet the high degree of accuracy required by the French Government. for wind farms. CLOUDSiS has now been used in over 50 formal assessments in France and has become instrumental in enabling France to increase its adoption of , whilst delivering assurance that this progress will not QinetiQ provided a fast, impact the integrity of weather radar. impartial and high-quality technical support on our wind farm project. The service helped to identify project solutions that are acceptable to both us and the radar operators. Anna Lafont, Quadran, June 2018

* Governmental validation and full authorisation of the use of CLOUDSiS for safeguarding QinetiQ RIA services enable wind farms, while protecting radar systems. assessments was achieved in 2015. Further validations have also been carried out using other weather radar data sources including European and NEXRAD radars and datasets from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. Deployed in more than Proven Global Capability 26 Countries 240 Delivering Evidence Based Solutions Customers

Radar Impact More than Assessment and 50+ Diagnostics 700 Number studies undertaken of formal Operational assessments Legal Advice Weather undertaken in and Guidance Station Impact France Assessment

Radar Impact Assessment Services 2016 CLOUDSiS standards Project Expert Analysis enshrined in French Law Feasibility and of Mitigation 2GW Optimisation Options Consultations of proposals in Fast France response services Solution Development and Support More than 15 years direct experience 2015 CLOUDSiS fully Cost validated by French Effective Completely Government Impartial Service QinetiQ Radar Impact Our People

Assessment Solutions QinetiQ’s Radar Impact & Mitigation Services are delivered by highly qualified and experienced engineers and associated staff underpinned by state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and software.

UK based but internationally deployed The team has worked with hundreds The QinetiQ RIA team are able to call many of our people have over 15 of industry stakeholders and on a wide range of relevant QinetiQ years’ experience in delivering radar legislators and built an excellent experts in areas such as Air Traffic impact assessments. understanding of the requirements Management (including former Air and constraints of wind farm Traffic Controllers), ATC surveillance The team have backgrounds in developers and the radar and systems and data processing, radar electromagnetic theory, radar design telecommunications industries. reflectivity measurement, radio and material behaviour applying communications, radar design and methods developed for civil and Our people have learned to bridge material design. Project Planning & Development Services military applications to understand the gap between stakeholders, and Working with Independent consulting services for radar stakeholders and wind farm how wind farms interact with radar developed expertise in explaining, developers providing advice through on-line pre-planning assessments. systems, and how to mitigate issues quantifying and finding mutually both wind farm arising. All our staff hold UK Defence beneficial solutions to mitigating Radar Impact Assessment & Diagnostics Services Security clearance. impacts. developers Deploying efficient assessment methodologies, which comply with all relevant industry guidelines, to address the issues that are of most concern to the and radar stakeholder or safeguarding authority. safeguarders The portfolio of impact assessments and diagnostics covers: globally, the - primary and secondary radar - microwave and line of sight links RIA team - radio and air-ground-air communications - aviation navigation aids such as VOR, DME and ILS deliver solutions - maritime navigation aids such as AIS operating across - broadcast & satellite systems such as TV, radio, and GPS. 4 primary areas. Solution Development & Support Services Providing advice on mitigation solutions to remove operational impacts from a potential development.

This covers all aspects of mitigation, including potential changes to the wind farm (e.g. layout optimisation, stealthy turbines) along with radar and operational mitigations.

Legal Advice & Guidance Services Utilising domain knowledge and radar impact modelling to develop and improve guidelines and legislation for assessing the potential radar impacts of wind turbines. For further information QinetiQ is always on your side, protecting, improving and please contact: advancing your vital interests Cody Technology Park Ively Road, Farnborough Hampshire GU14 0LX United Kingdom [email protected] +44 (0)1252 392000 Copyright QinetiQ Ltd 2018 QINETIQ/00/00000 www.QinetiQ.com