Stealth technology for wind turbines

• Published in: IET radar, sonar & navigation Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 126 - 133
• Main Authors: PINTO, J, MATTHEWS, J. C. G, SARNO, G. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stevenage Institution of Engineering and Technology 01.02.2010; The Institution of Engineering & Technology
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Detection, estimation, filtering, equalization, prediction; Exact sciences and technology; Information, signal and communications theory; Organization and planning of networks (techniques and equipments); Signal and communications theory; Signal, noise; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Teletraffic; Military application; Aerospace; European Union; Ground based measurement; Aeronautics; Teletraffic; Marine radar; Planning; Air traffic control; Target detection; Radar interference
• ISSN: 1751-8784; 1751-8792
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-rsn.2009.0031

The current generation of on and off-shore three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbines have radar signatures consistent with their often very large physical size and, hence, considerable potential to reduce the ability of ground-based radars to detect targets in the vicinity of the farm. In addition, the increasing number of offshore wind farm projects proposed has the potential to cause interference to marine radars such as coastal vessel traffic services and those on-board vessels for navigational purposes. This study considers the options available for the reduction of turbine radar signature and presents solutions for each of the main external turbine components. The radar signature reduction approaches are based on existing technologies developed for aerospace stealth applications. However, the realisation of these for the purposes of reducing wind turbine radar signatures is a novel development, particularly in the solutions proposed. The reduction of wind turbine-induced radar interference is a growing area of research.