Exec Summary: Avangrid wind turbine energy radar interference study
Department of the Navy|Jul 18, 2018
This study examined the impacts of Avangrid's Amazon Wind Energy facility sited in North Carolina on the Navy’s Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar (ROTHR) system. The conclusion of the study was that the wind project could not be expanded beyond the 104 wind turbines without further degrading the ability of the ROTHR.
This study examined the impacts of Avangrid's Amazon Wind Energy facility sited in North Carolina on the Navy’s Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar (ROTHR) system. The conclusion of the study was that the wind project could not be expanded beyond the 104 wind turbines without further degrading the ability of the ROTHR.
INTRODUCTION
Under the provisions of the Department of Defense (DoD) mission compatibility evaluation process1, the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse initiated a study of the Navy’s Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar (ROTHR) to assess the potential impacts from the Avangrid Wind2 Turbine Energy project, in Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties, North Carolina, hereinafter referred to as the Avangrid Wind Energy Project. The ROTHR system is located at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads-Northwest Annex, in Chesapeake, VA. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) was identified as lead independent radar specialist on this study effort due to their significant experience in conducting radar studies in support of DoD missions/operations. Other significant participants of the study include: Forces Surveillance Support Center (FSSC), United States Naval Research Laboratory, Raytheon, WR Systems, United States Air Force Research Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this document is to provide, as required by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DoD and Avangrid Renewables and the concurrence for construction of 104 wind energy turbines, a technical summary of the modeling and post-construction field measurements performed in 2017.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The primary conclusion of the study is that the 104 turbines meet the conditions of the MOA, the pre-construction model predictions were accurate, and the installation of additional wind energy turbines at the Avangrid Wind Energy Project site is not compatible with the ROTHR system.
CONCLUSION
The testing process demonstrated that the average measured wind energy farm interference levels were consistent with model predictions, and validated the construction of 104 wind energy turbines as the maximum allowable wind energy farm without exceeding the pre-determined and agreed upon impact from the Avangrid Wind Energy Project. Based on the results of the post-construction field measurements conducted in January and July 2017, no additional degradation in overall SCV from the Avangrid Wind Energy Project can be accommodated without risking additional degradation of the ROTHR system. Both the modeling and post-construction field measurements confirmed the maximum project size of 104 wind energy turbines; no additional wind energy turbines can be added to this renewable energy site.
