The Challenge
Germany is home to numerous wind farms that are essential for generating clean electricity. To ensure the safety of aircraft flying over these areas, wind turbines taller than 100 meters are required to have aviation warning lights. These lights operate continuously throughout the night, regardless of whether any aircraft are in proximity, which inadvertently contributes to light pollution and inconveniences residents. Recognizing this issue, Germany introduced the Renewable Energy Act, which mandates that both existing and new wind farms use Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) by the end of 2024. This presented an opportunity for innovative companies like SeRo to deliver solutions to address this challenge.
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The Challenge
Germany is home to numerous wind farms that are essential for generating clean electricity. To ensure the safety of aircraft flying over these areas, wind turbines taller than 100 meters are required to have aviation warning lights. These lights operate continuously throughout the night, regardless of whether any aircraft are in proximity, which inadvertently contributes to light pollution and inconveniences residents. Recognizing this issue, Germany introduced the Renewable Energy Act, which mandates that both existing and new wind farms use Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) by the end of 2024. This presented an opportunity for innovative companies like SeRo to deliver solutions to address this challenge.
The Solution
SeRo and Protea Tech have joined forces to develop an ADLS system that meets the specifications outlined by the German federal government. Protea Tech distributes a system that is powered by SeRo’s advanced large-scale air surveillance technology. Their combined ADLS solution operates by continuously tracking all flights in the airspace surrounding wind farms. The system calculates the precise position of each aircraft by means of ADS-B and Multilateration. Based on tens of thousands of such position calculations per second, it utilizes a geofencing service that tracks the distance between aircraft and each wind turbine and detects when an aircraft enters the mandated radius of a wind turbine. The ADLS then activates the aviation lights on that specific turbine. As soon as the aircraft departs from the controlled area, the system automatically switches off the lights.
The Solution
SeRo and Protea Tech have joined forces to develop an ADLS system that meets the specifications outlined by the German federal government. Protea Tech distributes a system that is powered by SeRo’s advanced large-scale air surveillance technology. Their combined ADLS solution operates by continuously tracking all flights in the airspace surrounding wind farms. The system calculates the precise position of each aircraft by means of ADS-B and Multilateration. Based on tens of thousands of such position calculations per second, it utilizes a geofencing service that tracks the distance between aircraft and each wind turbine and detects when an aircraft enters the mandated radius of a wind turbine. The ADLS then activates the aviation lights on that specific turbine. As soon as the aircraft departs from the controlled area, the system automatically switches off the lights.
Specifications
When fully deployed, the system will rely on approximately 150 of SeRo’s GRX1090W receivers deployed at strategic locations across Germany. These receivers generate more than 300,000 data points per second. Combined, the network provides a previously unseen ADS-B and MLAT coverage of the German airspace, spanning from ground to the en route airspace.
The benefits of the SeRo/Protea Tech ADLS solution are numerous and its applications are far-reaching. By significantly reducing light pollution, it helps the German government drive the acceptance of wind turbines among its citizens in its quest for cleaner electricity. An added benefit is that it ensures the safety and security of the German airspace by combining the comprehensive receiver network and SecureTrack’s proprietary technology.
Specifications
When fully deployed, the system will rely on approximately 150 of SeRo’s GRX1090W receivers deployed at strategic locations across Germany. These receivers generate more than 300,000 data points per second. Combined, the network provides a previously unseen ADS-B and MLAT coverage of the German airspace, spanning from ground to the en route airspace.
The benefits of the SeRo/Protea Tech ADLS solution are numerous and its applications are far-reaching. By significantly reducing light pollution, it helps the German government drive the acceptance of wind turbines among its citizens in its quest for cleaner electricity. An added benefit is that it ensures the safety and security of the German airspace by combining the comprehensive receiver network and SecureTrack’s proprietary technology.
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