Wind turbine effects to be measured

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A tool to accurately assess the impact on U.S. radar systems by wind farm turbines will be developed by a Raytheon-led team under a U.S. government contract.

The monetary value of the award and other details of the contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security weren't disclosed.

Raytheon, in a news release, noted that wind farms interfere with the tracking of aircraft and weather because the wind turbines create a Doppler effect, a phenomenon that could lead to radar blackout zones.

"Raytheon's 60-year legacy in the design and manufacture of radar systems strongly qualifies us to provide an innovative solution to the problem," said Andy Zogg, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Command and Control Systems. "With the introduction of our highly reliable tool, (Homeland Security) will be able to better manage approvals of wind farm applications, allowing for clean and renewable wind energy resources."

Raytheon said its team on the project includes Analytical Graphics, Inc. and Remcom, Inc.

The team will deliver their solution to the Homeland Security Department's Directorate of Science and Technology, Special Projects Division.