RAF tackles radar turbine problem

There are 20 onshore wind farms and 395 turbines in Wales

The RAF has staged a major exercise in mid Wales to help overcome the problems posed to radar by wind turbine blades.

The UK Government claims interference from the blades, known as clutter, affects civil and military air traffic control radar.

Two new systems were tested in Clatter, near Newtown, on Wednesday.

The Department of Trade and Industry, which took part with the Ministry of Defence, says radar and turbines cannot be in the same area at present.

However, if the new radar system worked, locations previously ignored by wind farm developers could be developed, said a department spokesman.

We hope that as a result of these trials, an increased number of wind farms can be built, without any risk to the armed forces' ability to train and operate Defence Minister Tom Watson

Defence Minister Tom Watson said: "The rotating blades of wind turbines interfere with radar performance when the blades are in the line of sight of the radar, which is why we have to restrict their position.

"We hope that as a result of these trials, an increased number of wind farms can be built, without any risk to the armed forces' ability to train and operate in the UK."

Government officials said the BAE Systems Advanced Digital Tracker (ADT) and the Sensis SPE-3000 processor would track flights by RAF aircraft in Clatter.

Radar clutter

They said the new technology was designed to register the aircraft alongside the radar clutter caused by the turbines' rotating blades.

RAF pilots have trained in the skies above mid Wales for decades.

Wednesday's exercise was near four working wind farms - Bryn Titli, Llandinam, Cefn Croes, near Aberystwyth, and Carno.

There are 20 onshore wind farms and 395 turbines in Wales, the majority of those are in central Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government expects 10% of electricity generated in Wales to come from renewable sources by 2010.