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Wind farm expansion could endanger aircraft as turbines interfere with radar signals
Credit: By Helen Davies | Liverpool Echo | Mar 15, 2014 | www.liverpoolecho.co.uk ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
A danger to aeroplane safety could stop plans to quadruple the size of Burbo Bank wind farm going ahead.
The ECHO can reveal Liverpool John Lennon Airport is in talks with Dong Energy, the company behind the extension plans, about using pioneering technology to stop the massive turbines interfering with air traffic control radars.
Companies have been invited to submit bids as to how they can solve the problem.
An airport spokesman said: “The reason that the airport is now liaising with the developer is because the additional proposed turbines are much larger than the existing wind turbines and would have an impact on the airport’s radar equipment, unlike the existing smaller wind turbines which do not.”
Dong Energy is hoping to build up to 65 new turbines – enough to power 170,000 more homes – around 8.5km from Crosby beach.
The danger extra large turbines pose to air traffic control is a problem for many wind farm developers but, whilst several companies are working on solutions, no cure has yet been put into practice.
A spokesman for the airport said: “There are a number of ways in which the interference with our radar could be mitigated, with various methods under constant development around the world.
“Whilst such solutions are in their infancy, it is accepted that aircraft safety is the number one priority and in addition to working closely with the airport to agree a solution, the developer will need to be granted approval for this mitigation by both the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and the Civil Aviation Authority, before implementing the expansion.”
Those who registered an interest in the expansion have until March 25 to put forward their views.
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