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Offshore Wind Farm Helicopter Search and Rescue Trials

15 Configurations of wind farm layouts

Section 13 of Sqdn Ldr Stanley’s report ( Section 8, page 16 ) refers to potential problems in using radar near to wind farms whose layout is not linear. This should be a consideration in the design of sites, whose choice of configurations may be based on a number of factors.

The designs below have, as their major consideration, the visual impact of wind farms (“Seascape”) when viewed from ashore.

The random configuration ( layout number 6 ) would cause the greatest problems for helicopter radar searches and probably also for visual searches.

Fig 28 : Seascape Impact Assessment, suggested wind farm layouts to minimise visual impacts from ashore6

linear image of wind turbines

(1) Linear (Plan view)

Square formation of wind turbines

        (2) Basic grid (Plan view)        

Parallelegram formation of wind turbines

        (3) Offset grid (Plan view)        

wavy line formation of wind turbines

(4) Arced (Plan view)

Fethered layout of turbines

        (5) Feathered grid (Plan view)        

Diagram of random layout of wind turbines

        (6) Random (Plan view)        

Note : These have been arranged in terms of increasing difficulty for helicopter radar searches.

6 Draft Seascape Impact Assessment, Guidance for wind farm developers, DTI 2005