New radars will ‘unlock UK offshore wind’ and enable coexistence with air defence 

Following close collaboration with industry, the government has bought specially designed air defence radars, which will mitigate against anomalies currently created by offshore windfarms.

In a statement, the government said the new radars, which will be installed from early 2029, “will keep the British people safe by maintaining the UK’s air defence capability.”

The radars are a crucial part of the UK’s air defence, enabling the detection and identification of incursions and threats within UK airspace. 

Now, they can also coexist with new offshore windfarms, without risk of interference, supporting both national and energy security.

The government said that, by upgrading the radar systems, it is ensuring that the record-breaking 8.4 GW of offshore wind capacity procured in the recent Allocation Round 7 renewable energy auction can move from contract to construction. 

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said, “This new radar technology will unlock a key barrier holding back offshore windfarms, so that we can deliver the clean home-grown power needed to protect families from volatile fossil fuel markets, while bolstering our national security.”

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said, “We are committed to investing in maintaining the UK’s national security. These new air defence radars will enable the Royal Air Force to monitor for potential attacks from adversaries and help our Armed Forces protect the UK.”

Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) board sponsor for aviation and defence, and Ørsted country manager Benj Sykes said, “OWIC welcomes the conclusion of procurement for a new air defence mitigation solution. This will ensure we are able to unlock over 10 GW of wind energy by 2030, as well as billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs for the UK, without compromising our national defence. 

“This is the culmination of a truly collaborative process over several years, with government and industry working in lockstep to deliver a solution that allows air defence and offshore wind to harmoniously co-exist,” Mr Sykes said.