Wind Farm Interference Studies

As our Great Nation moves towards renewable energy sources for our future energy requirements, Antenna Systems & Solutions, Inc. has assisted wind farm developers in assessing the wind farms impact on existing radar systems, television broadcast systems, land mobile radio systems, and point to point microwave systems. Our dedicated renewable energy assessment team has been involved in numerous wind farm studies around the country. Our standard procedure is to identify the potential interference issues, perform a detailed assessment of interference issues, and finally deliver mitigation solutions.

Phase 1: Identify potential interference issues:

Using our extensive knowledge base of microwave point to point back hauls, local area broadcasters, land mobile operators, and radar operations and tailored modelling solutions we are able to assess potential interference issues prior to installation.

• Preparatory study to assess if the proposed wind farm, given its location and topography will be 'seen' by radar systems within the vicinity or if it will interfere with microwave point to point backhauls, local area broadcasters, land mobile operators.
  
• Assessment of the performance characteristics of local radar installations, including military and ATC radar.
• Use of tailored modelling software to determine the potential levels of interaction between microwave point to point back hauls, local area broadcasters, land mobile operators,radar systems and wind turbines.
  
• Deliver a comprehensive plan for the proposed site which highlights potential areas of interference.

Phase 2: Detailed assessment of interference issues:
Once potential areas of conflict are identified, we are then able to provide detailed characterization of the issues to support planning and installation activities.

• Determine the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of the individual contributing components of the wind turbine.
• Model the affected radar systems to characterize the interaction between wind farm and radar.
• Model the affected over the air television broadcast frequencies to characterize the interaction between wind farm and television signals.
• Model the affected over the land mobile radio frequencies to characterize the interaction between wind farm and land mobile radio signals.
• Model the affected over the microwave point to point frequencies to characterize the interaction between wind farm and microwave point to point frequencies.
• Examine the potential impact to the radar systems.
• Examine the potential impact to land mobile radio operators.
• Examine the potential impact to broadcast over the air television operators.
• Examine the potential impact to microwave point to point operators.
• Deliver to our clients an objective report to support the application for planning permission for wind farms.
  

Phase 3: Deliver mitigation solutions:
Drawing on our skills and experience of delivering stealth solutions to the defense industry, we apply the same capabilities to create solutions to mitigate the interference issues between windfarms and radio frequency services.

• Provide consultancy and design services on the shaping of nacelles, blades and tower.
• Assistance in Wind Farm Tower placement to cause the least radio frequency environmental impact.
• Application of composite Radar Absorbing Material (RAM) to turbine components to minimize RCS.
• Use of spray coatings and elastomers to reduce turbines radar signature.
• Our reputation and credibility in providing key domain knowledge on the interference problem has been developed over many decades of research development and delivery of RCS reduction solutions into the defense industry

To learn more about the problems, as reported by the Department of Energy, that wind farms may impose on radio frequency services, feel free to click here to go to: http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/newengland/issues_interference.asp

For more information on our wind farm studies and assessments, please do not hesitate to contact us or call 877-288-6139. We look forward to working with you.