Wind farms threat to MoD radar

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The Ministry of Defence has already opposed at least four east coast on-shore wind farms because they make it impossible to detect aircraft flying overhead, according to the Times newspaper.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff, is insisting that the UK's radar capabilities must not be impaired, the paper reported.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Berr), which is responsible for energy policy, acknowledged there were "issues" over military radar and turbine sites.

An MoD spokesman denied the military would automatically lodge objections to new plans, saying: "All wind farm applications are assessed on a site-by-site basis.

"The MoD is committed to Government targets for renewable energy and whenever possible we seek to work with wind farm developers to find a mutually acceptable solution."

Trials in 2004 and 2005 showed wind turbines create a hole in radar coverage that makes aircraft flying overhead undetectable, the Times reported.

RAF Squadron Leader Chris Breedon explained the MoD's concerns at a planning inquiry into plans for an 18-turbine wind farm near North Charlton in Northumberland last year.

The proposed turbines would cause problems because they would be in direct line of sight of the defence radar station at Brizlee Wood, near Alnwick, he said.

A Berr spokeswoman said: "We recognise that issues concerning military radar can arise in planning applications for wind farms. We are working with the MoD to explore technical and other potential solutions to try to resolve radar issues where these arise."