Windplan Groen, a large-scale onshore wind project in the Dutch province of Flevoland, is now turning off red aviation lighting after a successful test period with a newly installed detection technology. The lights will now only be switched on with approaching aircrafts. This makes it the first wind farm in the Netherlands to apply this system to several wind farms simultaneously.
Switching off the evening and night lighting follows a successful test period of several weeks, which started in mid-July. During that period, tests were carried out to ensure that all signals get through properly and that the red lights of the total 86 wind turbines of the 11 wind farms in Windplan Groen actually turn on when small aircraft and helicopters approach the turbines.
The application of the detection system is is not compulsory but is a measure to reduce nuisance for the surroundings. The province of Flevoland contributed by launchingen a subsidy scheme for this type of system.
Not previously applied to 11 wind farms simultaneously
Windplan Groen’s approach detection system – Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) – is not unique. It has already been applied at the onshore wind farms Koningspleij and Krammer and the nearshore Fryslân Wind Farm, for example. However, it is now being applied for the first time to 11 wind farms at the same time. Wind farms with all different owners but joined in the Windkoepel Groen. According to Van der Steege, chairman of Windkoepel Groen, this shows the strength of the umbrella organisation, which has been able to operate as one large wind farm. Not only in the development phase and during construction, but also in the management and maintenance phase.
Detection system
The system for Windplan Groen was provided by Topwind, which is also in talks with other wind farms about similar solutions. Both parties concluded the agreement for the supply of ADLS at the end of last year. Over the past period, Topwind’s technicians have been busy implementing the system. Receivers were installed on 7 of the total 86 wind turbines. The necessary control hardware was installed and the connections made.
The receivers pick up signals from transponders, which are standard in aircraft. The receivers transmit the data from these signals to a server station, which determines at lightning speed where the aircraft are. If it appears that a plane is getting close to Windplan Groen, the server sends a signal to the central computer of the wind farm, which in turn switches on the red lights on the wind turbines in a fraction of a second.
The installation phase was followed by the official flight test, which turned out to be successful. This led to the important Certificate of No Objection from IL&T. A final trial period recently followed with very positive final results.
Multilateration
The delivery of the system is in close cooperation with Topwind’s partner LightGuard, an ADLS supplier with years of experience in neighbouring Germany. LightGuard applies multilateration; an ADLS refinement technique patented by them that determines an aircraft’s position very precisely.
This leads to even more ‘lights-off time’. Windplan Groen also works on the basis of this refinement technique and this is reflected in the high lights-off time already realised. Source: Windplan Groen / Topwind
