A radar system that can differentiate between aircraft and wind turbines is being developed, which could open up areas for wind farm development.
According to Engineer Live, projects which could deliver six gigawatts of renewable energy have been delayed as a result of objections from the aviation sector.
In some instances, defence officials have also been concerned by the radar "shadow" cast by wind turbines which could mask the flight of incoming aircraft.
But now Cambridge Consultants small scale tests of a holographic radar technology have revealed that it can distinguish between the turbines and moving targets.
Craig Webster, head of Cleantech and Cambridge Consultants, told the publication that the Aviation Plan set out by the government overlooked innovation when it stated that "there is no universal solution".
He said: "The statement does not reflect what could be achieved by innovation, and does not appear to allow for the possibility of a solution like ours … a universal solution that could enable the large-scale generation of renewable
wind energy."
E.ON has 20 offshore and onshore wind farms in place already and is working on the Robin Rigg project, which will be one of the largest in Europe when it is completed.
