With coal still ranking as a significant source of electricity and an acute desire to avoid reliance on Russian gas, the EU's largest economy is looking to increase its domestically produced renewable energy. As a result, the German government has told the country's air traffic control agency, Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), to make space for wind farms.

Green initiative

Traditionally, empty land has been kept clear in order to avoid interference with radio beacons. Meanwhile, this land will now be released in support of Germany's quest for green energy, according to proposals released earlier this week. This will entail air traffic agencies needing to upgrade their beacons. It might also mean air traffic control (ATC) would need to accept a higher margin of error when calculating the position of an airplane. However, new assessments of performance requirements say this is "acceptable."

From August 1, 2022, the current 15 km radius will be cut down to 7 km at three different facilities for omnidirectional radio beacons (DVOR Klasdorf, DVOR Gedern, and DVOR Fulda). Other areas will undergo reassessment to be completed before the end of the year.

Largest European airline fleet size
ATC may have to accept a higher margin of error when calculating aircraft positions. Photo: Getty Images

Research supports safety of new radius

To clear the project, there has been an intense collaboration between the German Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF), the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) and DFS.

Dr Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport (BMDV), said, as quoted by atc network,

"On the basis of the latest scientific findings, we have made it possible in a very short time to reduce the safe distances between wind turbines and air navigation and meteorological facilities. This will lead to a quicker expansion of wind power generation. We have now removed a significant obstacle in this process."

Wind turbines in park
Wind farms will become an increasingly prevalent sight as Germany strives to free itself from coal and Russia (although this one is located in California). Photo: Erik Wilde via Wikimedia Commons

His colleague and German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Robert Habeck, also commented on the project,

“We will have more areas for wind energy whilst safeguarding the safety of radio navigation. This successful cooperation with the aviation authorities is a very good example of how we are removing barriers at all levels to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy sources. As these measures taken by DFS are opening up more spaces for the erection of wind turbines, there will be a significant improvement in the ability to issue permissions for future planning applications for wind turbines.”

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Shape of EU things to come?

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has a target of covering 2% of Germany's land surface with wind farms. Solar panels will also be installed on all suitable roofs. The warming climate, coupled with the instability of supply and the political incentives to become less dependent on Russian oil and gas exports is bound to push more renewable energy projects across the continent. If the German experiment pans out, more ATCs may soon be requested to do the same.

Source: atc network