Environment & Energy

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Information for the General Public

Comparison of Wind Energy Impacts with Other Radar Interference Issues
Goals

The goal of this page is to:
(1) Provide examples of how radar echoes from wind turbines and other non-meteorological phenomena can appear in weather radar imagery.

(2) Help the public understand the appearance of wind turbine interference on radar imagery, relative to other radar interference issues, so that they can continue to use radar imagery without being confused or alarmed by these non-meteorological returns.

Background

NEXRAD
The NEXRAD radar (also known as the WSR-88D) is an important and unique tool for weather forecasters. The radar helps them look inside storms and remotely measure the motion of the atmosphere as well as the intensity and estimated amount of precipitation. NEXRAD data provides not only information about the strength and the type of the storm, but also its location and movement. This information is used by forecasters to provide warnings for severe thunderstorms, flash floods, tornadoes, and other weather phenomena.

Wind Energy
Wind energy is one of the primary renewable energy sources being pursued by the government and industry as a solution to the dependence on fossil fuels. With an emphasis on increasing wind energy from 2% of the nation's power (today) to 20% over the next two decades there will be a substantial growth in wind farm development. As a result, some wind farms are likely to be placed in close proximity to weather radars generating a need to recognize wind turbine interference.

The Facts

Although wind farms are detected by the NEXRAD, the effects are usually minimal unless they are within 18 km (10nm). Experienced operators are learning how to work with products that are c ontaminated by wind turbine interference. In fact, wind turbine clutter appears on the radar much like numerous other non-meteorological objects such as insects, birds, bats, buildings, or external sources of electro-magnetic interference. The following figures depict how some of these different sources of interference appear on NEXRAD products.

Link to the forecaster awareness training course developed, in collaboration with the Warning Decision Training Branch, to introduce forecasters to the appearance of wind turbine clutter (WTC) in NEXRAD products as well as provide some information on the "work-arounds" that are available.

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