RAF wind industry peace deal faces first test

The recently signed peace deal between the UK's wind industry and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is set to face the first test of its strength after the government today granted planning approval for a major offshore wind farm that could impact RAF radar systems.

The 315MW Sheringham Shoal wind farm off the coast of Norfolk will become the fourth largest offshore farm in the UK with 108 turbines and is expected to generate enough energy to power 178,000 homes.

Approval was granted on the same day as the government gave the green light to a 75MW onshore wind farm at Middlemoor in Northumberland, comprising of 18 turbines capable of powering 27,600 homes.

However, both approvals are conditional on technical solutions being developed that mitigate the effects of the turbines on the Air Defence Radar at RAF Brizlee Wood and Trimingham respectively. The government said that both business and defence ministers must be satisfied the impacts on these air defence radar are acceptable for the projects to proceed.

The projects will be seen by many as a test of the MoD's recent commitment to work closer with wind developers to help ensure fewer projects are blocked as a result of concerns over radar.

Earlier this year it joined with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Civil Aviation Authority and the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), in signing a memorandum of understanding committing all parties to better co-operation during the planning process for new wind farms.

The BWEA had previously complained that although the MoD had said it would not obstruct 11 schemes from nine separate developers, the department subsequently raised concerns about their impact on radar systems. The change in the MoD's position was estimated to have cost developers £7m in planning.

Duncan Ayling, head of offshore at the BWEA, welcomed the latest planning approvals as a positive sign. "This is a very encouraging move as it shows willingness from the MoD to try and reach mitigation solutions," he said, adding that the memorandum of understanding may have been a factor in approval being granted.

However, he warned that the developers, Scira Offshore Energy and Npower Renewables, still faced the risk that approval could be rescinded. "The government has done its job and got the consent out the door, but there is still a risk they will not be able to agree a work around [to the radar issues] so there is risk on the developers head," he said.