Since 2005, the airport has received over 250 consultations for on and off-shore wind farm developments from across the region, all aiming to meet government-set targets for renewable energy. Many of the schemes have the potential to affect the daily operations of Newcastle Airport’s Air Traffic Control since wind turbines in operation can appear on the airport radar with similar markings to a moving aircraft.
In the absence of a solution, in the past, the airport has had no alternative but to object to schemes where an unacceptable impact was predicted. However, a technological solution has been found in the form of Radar Blanking software, which updates the airport’s radar system. In effect, the new software places a ‘patch’ to cover the potential wind farm sites, thereby preventing turbines appearing, so they cannot be mistaken for moving aircraft.
“RenewableUK welcomes the proactive work that Newcastle Airport has undertaken in developing a radar mitigation strategy. This is a great example of where the aviation industry is working with wind farm developers to allow wind energy and aviation interests to co-exist,” Nicola Vaughan, head of aviation at RenewableUK (formally the British Wind Energy Association, BWEA).
Over the past two years, the airport has worked closely with the aviation industry, the renewables sector and regional partners to facilitate this mitigation. “For several years One North East has hosted meetings between airport and industry representatives, including RenewableUK, to help find a solution to these issues and we therefore welcome Newcastle International Airport’s work in preparing this new strategy and hope it will benefit both the airport and the renewables sector,” commented Ian Williams, Director of Business and Industry at the One North East regional development agency.
“We recognise the importance of the renewables agenda, not just to the region, but on a national and even global level. We were very keen to explore ways in which we could work to facilitate wind turbine developments. This strategy allows certain developments to proceed whilst growing the region’s largest airport, which annually contributes £400 million to the regional economy,” explains Graeme Mason, planning and corporate affairs director at Newcastle Airport.
It is expected that there will be a limit to the number of Radar Blanking Areas that are possible. Given its finite nature, the Radar Blanking Strategy is therefore seen as short-term mitigation. The Civil Aviation Authroity and others throughout the industry have made, and continue to make, a concerted effort to explore a long-term solution to this issue, yet none of the emerging technologies have been proven at this time.
“Newcastle Airport, alongside other stakeholders, is open and committed to exploring all alternatives which might emerge to find lasting solutions which will allow for further development of wind farm schemes in the North East,” said the airport in a statement.
Part of a wider Energy Policy
Newcastle International Airport’s commitment to wind power is part of its wider energy policy, which outlines a series of measures it will take to become more environmentally friendly. The airport’s management are striving to reach carbon footprint levels by 2015 that are up to 15% below current levels by switching light bulbs in the terminal to LEDs and monitoring sections of the site to discover how much energy is used by various devices such as telephones, computers and lamps. As well as upgrading and installing new, efficient equipment, the team will be dedicated to raising awareness on the importance of carbon reduction across the company by identifying various members of staff to become an “energy champion” and share advice on how to lower consumption.
For additional information:
Newcastle International Airport
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