German wind farm operations and maintenance specialist, Deutsche Windtechnik, is installing an aircraft detection lighting system (ADLS) at the 111MW Nordergrunde offshore wind farm in Germany.
Nordergrunde is the first time German offshore wind farm to be equipped with ADLS technology.
In the second half of 2021, Deutsche Windtechnik had already installed the ADLS on two wind turbines at Nordergrunde and began performing tests. Preparations are now underway to complete the full installation with retrofitting expected to take place in spring 2022.
ADLSs are designed to allow for the lights to remain off until it senses an approaching aircraft, at which point the lights automatically begin flashing until the aircraft is out of the vicinity of the wind farm.
The transponder-based ADLS complete solution that will be installed was developed by Deutsche Windtechnik in cooperation with FUNKE Avionics.
Eckhard Stürtz, managing director of the operating company Nordergrunde OWF, said: “Even though offshore wind turbines in Germany do not need to be retrofitted with ADLS until the end of 2023, we wanted to seize the opportunity and install the ADLS now to avoid night-time light emissions coming from the nearshore site.
“Deutsche Windtechnik supports Nordergrunde OWF as part of a full-service contract, and we are glad that we can also benefit from the company’s ADLS expertise.”
Image credit: Deutsche Windtechnik
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