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Radar

Find current information on agency efforts in developing analytical tools, collecting test data, and creating solutions to mitigate the impact of wind turbines on advanced radar systems. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

The completion of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) approval of construction of wind turbines across the Midwestern and Plains states complements the Department of Energy's (DOE) effort to increase the use of renewable and clean energy projects as part of the Advanced Energy Initiative, while also ensuring that domestic and military aircraft continue to fly safely.

Over 600 applications for construction of wind turbines across several Midwestern and Plains states were approved by the FAA. Combined, these applications total over 950 megawatts of new wind power, representing a $1.5 billion investment in new clean energy electricity in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The approval of these projects demonstrates that the review and evaluation process for impacts of wind projects protects civilian and military operations as well as the development of wind energy.

The approval of these projects was followed by the Defense Department's recent findings that wind power will play a key role in meeting our nation's energy needs. On September 27, 2006, the Department of Defense (DOD) released a report on windmill impacts on military readiness (PDF 1.3 MB). The report concluded that more needs to be known about potential impacts of wind systems on military radar and that in the interim, a case-by-case approach to evaluating wind projects impacts is appropriate. DOE will continue to support the DOD and other agencies in developing analytical tools, collecting test data, and creating solutions to mitigate the impact of wind turbines on advanced radar systems critical to military readiness.

Background

  • The Advanced Energy Initiative identifies wind energy as having the potential to supply 20% of the nation's electricity needs, enhancing our energy and national security.

  • DOE, along with the FAA, will lead an interagency effort to explore best practices that can be used across agencies to guide wind project development and prescreening tools to identify less-intrusive sites early in the development process.

  • DOE is also conducting a review of domestic and international mitigation experiences to date and technology options worthy of development.

  • These cooperative efforts will allow the development of vast homeland wind resources while protecting other critical civilian and military uses of the nation's land and air.

More Information

  • Issue Forum on Wind Power and Radar Interaction

    In July 2006, the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC) convened experts to share their work on interactions between wind power and radar. Questions about the influence of wind energy on aviation radar are being discussed in a number of regions of the United States.

  • The Effect of Windmill Farms On Military Readiness (PDF 1.3 MB)

    In August 2006, the Department of Defense published this report that focuses on the effects of wind farms on air defense and missile warning radars and the resulting potential impact on military readiness. Its scope is limited to these specific subjects and is based on the current level of understanding regarding interactions between such defense systems and state-of-the-art wind turbines.

  • Federal Aviation Administration

    The prime objectives of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are to promote air safety and the efficient use of the navigable airspace. If you are planning to sponsor any construction or alterations which may affect navigable airspace, you must file a Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration with the FAA.

  • Wind Industry Information

    A statement of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) on the report by the U.S. Department of Defense on the effect of wind farms on military radar.

  • United Kingdom Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 

    The United Kingdom Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) recognizes a concern among the aviation industry and within the Ministry of Defence that wind turbines can reduce the effectiveness of radars used for air traffic control and defense surveillance. BERR has a Wind Farms, Civil Aviation and Defence Interests Working Group to address issues of concern and generate public domain guidelines. The group's intention is to aid those involved in the planning process with a more scientific approach to resolving objections and assist the continuing development of wind energy sources in the United Kingdom. Below are wind farm/radar interaction documents.

    • Options for mitigating the impact of wind turbines on NERL's primary radar infrastructure (PDF 169 KB)
    • Feasibility of mitigating the effects of wind farms on primary radar (PDF 782 KB)
    • Project Overview: Feasibility of mitigating the effects of wind farms on primary radar (PDF 80 KB)
    • Wind farms impact on radar aviation interests (PDF 1.9 MB)
    • Wind Energy and Aviation Interests – Interim Guidelines (PDF 1.4 MB)