Measurements and EM Modelling of Monostatic Radar Echoes from Wind Turbines Over Terrain

In areas suitable for wind turbines, compatibility with nearby radar systems must be assessed to determine whether the target coordinates could be unduly restricted. A new method, based on complementary measurements and electromagnetic simulations, uses existing reference reflectors to generate a field strength distribution in these areas. This distribution is then used to simulate the impact of new wind turbines on the terrain. The method is tested in the vicinity of a monostatic long-range 3D radar in L-band, where there are many existing obstacles on the ground, including wind turbines. Measurements are performed using an additional device that runs in parallel to the regular signal processing and records intermediate frequency (IF) signals from the receiver. In a site-specific scenario, radar return over the terrain is measured and compared with state-of-the-art simulations. A validated incident field in areas of interest is then used to estimate additional effects caused by new wind turbines to be planned. The deflected effective antenna diagram behind obstacles like wind turbines is shown with potential impact of terrain.