Offshore wind farm could create radar blind spots and ‘ghost’ targets, Chinese study warns
Offshore wind farms can reduce the coverage of shore-based radar systems and create areas where targets become harder to detect, according to a new study. The researchers found that at a range of 5km (3 miles), effective radar coverage fell by 6.9 per cent while blind spots increased by 14.9 per cent. The research, published online last month in the peer-reviewed Chinese journal Radio…
A recent study warns that offshore wind farms in China could create radar blind spots and "ghost" targets, potentially disrupting the detection of ships in coastal waters. Professor Liu Zunnian and his team from Qingdao Technological University and Yantai Communication Centre found that wind turbines can interfere with shore-based radar systems, reducing effective coverage and creating areas where targets become harder to detect.
The research, published in the Chinese journal Radio Engineering, showed that at a range of 5km, radar coverage fell by 6.9%, while blind spots increased by 14.9%. The issue is not unique to China, as foreign countries have also faced similar problems, according to a military equipment expert who asked to remain anonymous. China, which has the world's largest offshore wind capacity, would likely need to consider radar interference during the planning stage of offshore wind projects.
The study's authors suggested measures such as careful site selection, improved radar algorithms, and supplementary radars to mitigate the effects.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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