Wind farms & Electromagnetic Interference
Abstract
This paper examines one of the common concerns associated with wind farms at the planning stage: electromagnetic interference (EMI). Inappropriately designed wind farms can potentially cause interference to both public services such as television and radio, or to private networks such as fixed links. There is a current tendency in Environmental Statements to give only a cursory consideration of EMI effects and to rely on qualitative arguments and list example mitigation measures without fully considering if the wind farm could be designed to negate impacts. Without due consideration and without quantifying the impact, the argument of EMI effects can be used against a wind farm in the planning stages.
Developers of wind farms often rely on regulators and network operators for EMI assessments, who may apply overly stringent boundary conditions in their assessments, which may inturn lead to overprediction of impacts. This can also lead to project delays and higher development costs. This paper brings together and examines the background of a range of EMI issues and the tools available to more accurately predict EMI effects at the planning stage. The use of mathematical prediction models is demonstrated and, where necessary, the models are improved upon. The mathematical models make up part of SKM’s WindToolBox, which is used at every stage of a wind farm development from site finding through to wind farm commissioning.
Author
Steven Buckley
Wind Power Engineer, Sinclair Knight Merz