The Effects of Wind Turbines on Fixed Radio Direction Finders
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Report ITU-R SM.2391-0 (06/2016) The effects of wind turbines on fixed radio direction finders SM Series Spectrum management ii Rep. ITU-R SM.2391-0 Foreword The role of the Radiocommunication Sector is to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio- frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including satellite services, and carry out studies without limit of frequency range on the basis of which Recommendations are adopted. The regulatory and policy functions of the Radiocommunication Sector are performed by World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences and Radiocommunication Assemblies supported by Study Groups. Policy on Intellectual Property Right (IPR) ITU-R policy on IPR is described in the Common Patent Policy for ITU-T/ITU-R/ISO/IEC referenced in Annex 1 of Resolution ITU-R 1. Forms to be used for the submission of patent statements and licensing declarations by patent holders are available from http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/patents/en where the Guidelines for Implementation of the Common Patent Policy for ITU-T/ITU-R/ISO/IEC and the ITU-R patent information database can also be found. Series of ITU-R Reports (Also available online at http://www.itu.int/publ/R-REP/en) Series Title BO Satellite delivery BR Recording for production, archival and play-out; film for television BS Broadcasting service (sound) BT Broadcasting service (television) F Fixed service M Mobile, radiodetermination, amateur and related satellite services P Radiowave propagation RA Radio astronomy RS Remote sensing systems S Fixed-satellite service SA Space applications and meteorology SF Frequency sharing and coordination between fixed-satellite and fixed service systems SM Spectrum management Note: This ITU-R Report was approved in English by the Study Group under the procedure detailed in Resolution ITU-R 1. Electronic Publication Geneva, 2016 ITU 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without written permission of ITU. Rep. ITU-R SM.2391-0 1 REPORT ITU-R SM.2391-0 The effects of wind turbines on fixed radio direction finders (2016) Summary of the Report Notwithstanding the requirements of the ITU’s Spectrum Monitoring Handbook, which calls for a minimum safety distance of five kilometres between radio direction finders and wind farms, no separate studies have as yet been conducted into the specific effects of wind turbines on fixed radio direction finders at various safety distances. Annex 1 to this Report provides one study conducted on this topic regarding the influence of wind parks on radio direction finders operated at various distances and at various frequencies. Annex 1 Example of a study of the effects of wind turbines on fixed radio direction finders executed in Germany Summary of Annex 1 The draft version of a new regional plan proposes the designation of a wind energy priority area around the Bundesnetzagentur’s radio monitoring station in Rheurdt, Germany. This investigation has found that significant interference is caused by wind farms situated in proximity to fixed radio direction finders. Even at a distance of 4.6 km, the results show that wind farms cause unacceptable bearing deviations and interference levels. Specific interference varies considerably depending on the distance and position of the wind farm as well as the wavelength. In the case of long-wave VHF frequency bands (4 m and 2 m), interference generally occurs in all directions irrespective of the specific position of the wind farm. At close proximity to a wind farm, the level of interference in the case of short-wave UHF frequency bands (especially 23 cm and 13 cm) depends on the position of individual wind turbines, while, at greater distances, the wind farm as a whole acts as a reflective surface. The bearings in these frequency bands are also subject to high levels of fluctuation. Direction-finding (DF) errors can take the form of highly dispersed DF results in all four quadrants, a few discrete DF errors or bearings which fluctuate around a fictitious average value. A short-wave direction finder behaves chaotically within a wind farm. Even when the wind park is situated 2.5 km away, there is only a narrow sector transverse to the wind farm in which valid bearings are theoretically possible. At a distance of 4.6 km, the situation improves to the extent that significant DF errors were identified only in the direction of the wind farm and in the opposite direction. However, the effects on the sky-wave reception of short-wave direction finders were not included in the scope of this investigation. In all frequency bands, the DF errors identified are greater than ±20° (and, in some cases, are even rotary). Even DF errors of more than 2° prevent the timely investigation of interference on safety frequencies (police, aeronautical radio, etc.) and the efficient clarification of frequency usage, whether in the event of interference or when checking frequency occupation. 2 Rep. ITU-R SM.2391-0 The identified level fluctuations of up to 40 dB (which equates to a 99.99% loss of signal) make calibrated field strength measurements impossible and jeopardise the potential necessary decoding of analogue and digital radio transmissions. The investigation shows that wind turbines and fixed radio direction finders are not compatible at distances of up to at least 4.6 km. The recorded interference shows clearly that, in such circumstances, it would no longer be possible to operate a Bundesnetzagentur radio monitoring station in accordance with the relevant requirements. Rep. ITU-R SM.2391-0 3 Table of contents of Annex 1 Page 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4 2 Frequency bands ............................................................................................................. 6 3 Carrying out measurements ............................................................................................ 6 4 Measurement areas ......................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Wind farm measurements ................................................................................... 7 4.2 Reference measurements .................................................................................... 8 5 Measurement set-ups ...................................................................................................... 11 5.1 DF vehicle ........................................................................................................... 11 5.2 Transmitter vehicle ............................................................................................. 11 6 Calculating the bearing angle ......................................................................................... 15 7 Direction finder locations ............................................................................................... 15 7.1 Direction finder 0 – centre of wind farm ............................................................ 15 7.2 Direction finder 1 – edge of wind farm .............................................................. 17 7.3 Direction finder 2 – located 2.5 km away ........................................................... 18 7.4 Direction finder 3 – located 4.6 km away ........................................................... 19 8 Measurement paths ......................................................................................................... 20 9 DF results ........................................................................................................................ 22 9.1 Reference measurements .................................................................................... 22 9.2 Measurement series ............................................................................................ 33 10 Level measurements ....................................................................................................... 63 10.1 System sensitivity ............................................................................................... 65 10.2 Registration within the time domain ................................................................... 65 10.3 Level analysis ..................................................................................................... 69 4 Rep. ITU-R SM.2391-0 1 Introduction The Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway) is a separate higher federal authority within the scope of business of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, and is headquartered in Bonn. Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act (TKG), its tasks include frequency regulation within the Federal Republic of Germany, monitoring compliance with the conditions of frequency assignment, investigating interference in connection with frequency usage and remedying any resulting infringements. For this purpose, the Bundesnetzagentur operates seven radio monitoring stations throughout Germany which are equipped with radio direction-finding (DF) apparatus, and are registered with and recognised by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). These monitoring stations can identify the direction from which a radio transmission is made relative to their location. Based on this information, the probable location of the transmission can then be determined. Of these seven radio monitoring stations, only four are equipped with additional