Stealthy Wind Turbines

Applying smart materials to create stealthy wind turbines

We have developed a non-conventional Radar-Absorbing Material (RAM) solution which, unlike conventional parasitic RAM, can be incorporated into the turbine blade structure. We achieve this by replacing one of the composite's glass cloth layers with a specially modified version, enabling thin (relative to wavelengths being absorbed) composites to absorb more than 99% of incidental radar.

This technology allows wind farm operators to achieve a significant increase in successful wind farm applications by removing objections based on interference with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Air Defence (AD) radars. The solution will, therefore, accelerate the UK towards reaching its renewable energy targets according to its Kyoto obligations. The solution is cost effective, needs no change to existing manufacturing methods and is a fit-and-forget solution.