Mooir Vannin team give presentation to IOM Astronomical Society
The Isle of Man Observatory in Foxdale was the venue for a presentation to members of the Island’s Astronomical Society.
Richard Watson (Technical Director, Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm) and Hywel Roberts (Strategic Consents Lead) spoke to members and answered questions about the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm project.
In addition to the scientific, technical and engineering aspects of the project, a key talking point was about the lighting systems that offshore wind farms use for aviation and sea traffic safety. All offshore wind farm turbines must have warning lights, and in particular, aviation lighting is located on top of the nacelle for 360-degree visibility, flashing simultaneously synchronised in the Morse Code for the letter ‘W’.
The team were able to talk to the Society about newer Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) which are a tried and tested approach in international markets, including on Ørsted operated wind farms, for reducing visual impacts from aviation warning lights. ADLS detect when aircraft are in proximity to a wind farm (3 nautical miles horizontally and 1,000 feet above blade tips) triggering the lights to come on. This was of particular interest to Astronomical Society members because it further reduces the low levels of light pollution that wind turbine lights have in ‘dark skies’ astronomy areas.
Ørsted is working on the assumption that the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Authority (IOM CAA) would transpose the UK CAA’s specifications for ADLS and is working with the Isle of Man Airport and air traffic analysts to understand the expected air traffic during the hours of darkness. It is expected that introducing ADLS would provide significant reduction of aviation
lighting on nighttime visual impact. Ørsted is therefore committed to exploring the technical and regulatory feasibility of deploying ADLS for Mooir Vannin with the relevant parties.
The Mooir Vannin team thanked the Astronomical Society’s members for their interest in the Mooir Vannin project, and for a fascinating visit to the Isle of Man Observatory.
In addition to the scientific, technical and engineering aspects of the project, a key talking point was about the lighting systems that offshore wind farms use for aviation and sea traffic safety. All offshore wind farm turbines must have warning lights, and in particular, aviation lighting is located on top of the nacelle for 360-degree visibility, flashing simultaneously synchronised in the Morse Code for the letter ‘W’.
The team were able to talk to the Society about newer Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) which are a tried and tested approach in international markets, including on Ørsted operated wind farms, for reducing visual impacts from aviation warning lights. ADLS detect when aircraft are in proximity to a wind farm (3 nautical miles horizontally and 1,000 feet above blade tips) triggering the lights to come on. This was of particular interest to Astronomical Society members because it further reduces the low levels of light pollution that wind turbine lights have in ‘dark skies’ astronomy areas.
Ørsted is working on the assumption that the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Authority (IOM CAA) would transpose the UK CAA’s specifications for ADLS and is working with the Isle of Man Airport and air traffic analysts to understand the expected air traffic during the hours of darkness. It is expected that introducing ADLS would provide significant reduction of aviation
lighting on nighttime visual impact. Ørsted is therefore committed to exploring the technical and regulatory feasibility of deploying ADLS for Mooir Vannin with the relevant parties.
The Mooir Vannin team thanked the Astronomical Society’s members for their interest in the Mooir Vannin project, and for a fascinating visit to the Isle of Man Observatory.