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RES to use radar-activated warning systems for wind farms

The OCAS technology means wind farms do not need warning lights to be permanently switched on, reducing the visual impact at night

Wind developer RES Americas is to use Wind Turbine Collision Avoidance Systems at wind farms in Oregon and Washington under a new deal.

It has sealed a regional exclusivity deal with Virginia firm OCAS, Inc., to use the systems in the Pacific northwest as well as parts of Canada.

The OCAS system uses radar to detect approaching aircraft and activates warning lights when necessary.

A secondary audio warning is then delivered to the pilot’s radio if the aircraft does not take measures to avoid the turbines.

The OCAS system means that warning lights can be kept off when no aircraft are near, reducing the light pollution from wind farms.

The technology was approved for use by the Federal Aviation Authority last year, and has so far been used to guard power lines in Kentucky.

“Confident”

Gregory Erdmann, Director of Sales for Wind Turbine Solutions at OCAS, said: “With our first North American project currently being deployed in Talbot, Ontario, I am confident that the combination of RES’ development and construction experience and OCAS’ cutting edge technology will help launch the OCAS concept in the industry.”

More importantly, this will help make the industry and our communities more aware that reducing the visual impact of wind farms is an important and responsible part of wind energy development,” Mr Erdmann added.

Based in Vienna, Virginia, OCAS Inc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OCAS AS, a Norwegian firm founded in 1999 to devise warning systems to help aircraft avoid power lines.

RES Americas has its corporate office in Broomfield, Colorado, and has more than 4,800MW of wind farms under construction in North America and over 12,500MW capacity in development.