Wind Energy and Airports:
Can They Be Compatible?
Stephen Barrett
Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.
AAAE Energy Forum, West Palm Beach, FL
February 16, 2012
Presentation Outline
§  Wind Power Market
§  Issues Between Wind and Aviation
- Part 77
- Radar
- Mitigation
§  Wind Turbine Projects at Airports
Wind Power
•  2010 – wind power
represents 26% of all new
energy capacity
•  2007-2010 – wind power
represents 35% of all new
energy capacity
•  2008-2010 – US #1
•  2011 – China #1, US #2
Renewable Energy
EIA, 2008
Issues Between Wind Turbines and Aviation
Evolution of Wind Turbines – Growing Taller
Modern Wind Turbines
400-450
feet
Wind Turbines and Aviation
Penetrates into
Airspace
Radar Interference
Mitigating Radar Impacts - Siting and Technology
Red – Highly likely impact to radar
Yellow – Likely impact to radar
Green – Unlikely impact to radar
New technologies include:
-  Advanced signal processing
-  Filtering out false signals
ACRP Synthesis Report – October 2011
Energy Types
•  Solar Power
•  Wind Power
•  Cooling Towers
•  Transmission Lines
Impact Types
•  Physical Penetration
•  Glint and Glare
•  Radar Interference
•  Thermal Plume
•  Vapor Plume
Wind Projects at Airports
§  Building-Integrated
§  Vertical Axis
§  Horizontal Axis
Building-Integrated Wind Turbines
Honolulu International Airport
•  16, 1 kW units, 6’ x 8.5’
•  Electricity supplied to airport administrative building
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
•  10, 1 kW units
•  Airport fire station
Boston Logan Airport
•  20, 1 kW units
•  Administration building
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
Martha’s Vineyard
-  1 Sky Farm turbine
-  50 kW -  20 feet tall, 14 feet diameter
Detroit Metro
-  6 windspire turbines
-  1.2 kW
-  30 feet tall, 4 feet diameter
Martha’s Vineyard Demonstration Project
Specifications
•  Blades 20 ft long
•  15 ft diameter
•  Siemens 55 kW generator
•  4,698 lbs
•  120,450 kWh / year
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine
Part 77
East Midlands Airport, UK
Second largest cargo airport in UK
Four 250 kW turbines
130 feet tall
Powers 5% of airport’s needs
Equivalent to 150 homes
Is Wind Energy Compatible with Airports?
Thank you!