Shortly before 2018 drew to a close, energy farm developer UKA concluded an initial purchase and full maintenance contract with Quantec Sensors GmbH for a system of needs-based night identification of wind turbines. The BNK detection system was developed with the aim of connecting individual wind farms in a small service area and will be used on UKA’s Höherberg wind farm in the Lower Saxony, Germany in 2020. The system ensures that the lights on the turbine only switch on when there are aeroplanes flying in the region. “In consultation with representatives from the community we made a voluntary decision to install a system for needs-based night identification, in order to alleviate the effects of light emissions on local residents and to promote acceptance of wind energy locally,” explains Project Director Sabine Krüper from UKA Nord.
Needs-based night identification requires the installation of a tower with a radar system to monitor the airspace. Full commissioning and recognition by Deutsche Flugsicherung [the company in charge of air traffic control for Germany] is expected in the second half of 2020. The active radar has an effective radius of 11 kilometres. Looking ahead, integration of other nearby wind farm projects into the system is also in plan.