Radar ImpactAssessment

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 repowering 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.

Enabling Wind FarmsProtecting Radar

Market ContextAcross the world countries continue to embrace wind farm technology for both onshore and off shore applications.

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

Wind turbines can block radar signals or cause interference that is unacceptable to the radar operators. Reflections from the moving blades can have the appearance of aircraft and often cannot be filtered from the radar display.

QinetiQ’s RIA team utilises state-of-the-art modelling software and 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 permission being granted increases.

This early engagement can deliver significant time and cost savings to developers and stakeholders.

Measured NOAA Data CLOUDSiS Simulated Data

The impact of a wind farm on radar and telecommunication systems must be assessed before planning consent is given. The cumulative impact with existing turbines and other objects in the environment must also be considered.

Impact Assessment & Mitigation

QinetiQ’s advanced Radar Impact Assessment (RIA) techniques are capable of accurately modelling the potential impact any wind farm construction will have on radar effectiveness.

This was a challenging project and the condition for Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) restricted construction. Thanks to your model we were able to show that the impact on the SSR was manageable.Colin Brown, Business & Development Manager,

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, New York. 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.

Wind farm Multipath Zone

Mitigation SolutionsRadar mitigation solutions are an essential part of the radar impact assessment.

QinetiQ RIA services enable wind farms, while protecting radar systems.

QinetiQ do not only assess the severity of a problem, but work closely with both the wind farm developer and the radar safeguarder to find a solution.

These fall into three distinct areas:

– Wind farm mitigation solutions: changes to the proposed development including layout optimisation, or turbine design even including QinetiQ’s successful stealth turbine design which absorbs radar waves

– Radar mitigation solutions: such as processing upgrades or ‘blanking and infill’, the practice of ‘blanking’ affected radars and then ‘infilling’ these gaps with signals from unaffected radars to create a complete, accurate picture

– Operational mitigation solutions: these can be the most costly and include diverting aircraft around wind farms to avoid radar impacts

QinetiQ has demonstrated that, using expertise and technology originally developed for military applications, it is possible to accurately model the effect that a proposed site will have on meteorological readings. Dr Thierry Le Gall, Technology Exploitation Manager,

CLOUDSiS: A Proven MethodologyThe QinetiQ CLOUDSiS solution can be deployed for both new wind farm projects and those where repowering assessments are required, where old turbines are replaced with new, often larger ones to optimise the power output.

In each assessment case, the CLOUDSiS solution is able to model both turbine occultation (when one object is hidden by another) and radar reflectivity, whilst taking into account complexities such as the effects of antenna beam shape, terrain screening, energy diffraction and multipath reflectivity.

The maps created are specific to turbine type, terrain interaction and shielding, whilst areas where turbines are visible from the radar but have no impact are also highlighted.

These models can then be used to identify areas where a particular turbine type is acceptable. It is this analysis that is specifically suited to identifying viable development areas for wind farms.

When Météo-France engaged QinetiQ, approximately 6 gigawatts of planned windfarms were being blocked due to meteorological concerns that the installations may cause weather radar impacts.

In an attempt to break this deadlock, the French Government passed a law allowing private contractors to conduct independent impact assessments.

If they can prove the accuracy of their predictions they receive validation from the Government and their recommendations can be legally recognised in consideration of planning applications.

QinetiQ’s CLOUDSiS radar impact assessment software is the first method to receive full Governmental validation by the Direction Generale de la Prevention des Risques (DGPR) and France’s national weather authority, Météo-France.*

QinetiQ achieved this by modelling the impact of two operational wind farms on the Abbeville weather radar in Normandy, northern France. The modelling was compared with real observations from the radar.

This test confirmed that CLOUDSiS was able to model potential impacts to meet the high degree of accuracy required by the French Government.

CLOUDSiS has now been used in over 50 formal assessments in France and has become instrumental in enabling France to increase its adoption of renewable energy, whilst delivering assurance that this progress will not impact the integrity of weather radar.

Protecting the Weather Forecast

* Governmental validation and full authorisation of the use of CLOUDSiS for safeguarding assessments was achieved in 2015. Further validations have also been carried out using other weather radar data sources including European and United States NEXRAD radars and datasets from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office.

QinetiQ provided a fast, 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

Proven Global CapabilityDelivering Evidence Based Solutions

2016CLOUDSiS standards enshrined in French Law

More than

15 yearsdirect experience

More than

response servicesFast

Impartial Service

Completely

Radar Impact Assessment Services

Radar Impact Assessment and

Diagnostics

Solution Development and Support

Project Feasibility and Optimisation

Legal Advice and Guidance

Expert Analysis of Mitigation

Options

Operational Weather

Station Impact Assessment

EffectiveCost

240Customers

2GWConsultations of proposals in

France

50+ Number of formal assessments undertaken in France

2015CLOUDSiS fully

validated by French Government

700 studies undertaken

26 CountriesDeployed in more than

QinetiQ Radar Impact Assessment Solutions

Working with both wind farm developers and radar safeguarders globally, the RIA team deliver solutions operating across 4 primary areas.

Project Planning & Development ServicesIndependent consulting services for radar stakeholders and wind farm developers providing advice through on-line pre-planning assessments.

Radar Impact Assessment & Diagnostics ServicesDeploying efficient assessment methodologies, which comply with all relevant industry guidelines, to address the issues that are of most concern to the stakeholder or safeguarding authority.

The portfolio of impact assessments and diagnostics covers:

- primary and secondary radar

- microwave and line of sight links

- radio and air-ground-air communications

- aviation navigation aids such as VOR, DME and ILS

- maritime navigation aids such as AIS

- broadcast & satellite systems such as TV, radio, and GPS.

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.

Our People

UK based but internationally deployed many of our people have over 15 years’ experience in delivering radar impact assessments.

The team have backgrounds in electromagnetic theory, radar design and material behaviour applying methods developed for civil and military applications to understand how wind farms interact with radar systems, and how to mitigate issues arising. All our staff hold UK Defence Security clearance.

The team has worked with hundreds of industry stakeholders and legislators and built an excellent understanding of the requirements and constraints of wind farm developers and the radar and telecommunications industries. Our people have learned to bridge the gap between stakeholders, and developed expertise in explaining, quantifying and finding mutually beneficial solutions to mitigating impacts.

The QinetiQ RIA team are able to call on a wide range of relevant QinetiQ experts in areas such as Air Traffic Management (including former Air Traffic Controllers), ATC surveillance systems and data processing, radar reflectivity measurement, radio communications, radar design and material design.

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.

For further informationplease contact:Cody Technology ParkIvely Road, FarnboroughHampshire GU14 0LXUnited KingdomEnergyenquiries@QinetiQ.com+44 (0)1252 392000www.QinetiQ.comCopyright QinetiQ Ltd 2018 QINETIQ/00/00000

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