Introduction of a New Transponder Mandatory Zone in the North sea.

Closed 31 Jan 2021

Opened 23 Nov 2020

Contact

AirspaceConsultation@nats.co.uk

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

This airspace change proposal (ACP) is sponsored by us, Vattenfall Wind Power Limited, referred to in this consultation as Vattenfall, the Developer or the Sponsor.

We intend to develop two new offshore wind farms in the North Sea, Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas.  They will be 47 km from the Norfolk coast and cover a combined area of approximately 1300 km2.  Each wind farm will contain up to 180 Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) and will provide power for approximately 1.95 million UK homes per annum.

However, our wind turbines could interfere with air traffic control radars.  To mitigate against this interference a Primary Radar Mitigation Scheme (PRMS) is required.  We are proposing to use Range Azimuth Gating (RAG) blanking with a complimentary Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) as our mitigation solution (For further details see Section 8 of the consultation document).

We are consulting in relation to the establishment of the TMZ, which is shown below (Red Outline).

The proposed wind farm is located within UK and Dutch Class G airspace in the North Sea.  It is expected that the TMZ will extend into Dutch airspace.  Nearby ATS routes will remain unchanged by this proposal.

The purpose of this consultation is for you, our stakeholders, to respond effectively to the information we have provided.  The Consultation document can be read in conjunction with the Consultation Strategy and Full Options Appraisal which outlines the consultation approach.

 

Why your views matter

We are seeking feedback from stakeholders who may be affected by the proposal.  Primarily this is likely to be users of the airspace and other aviation stakeholders.  Nonetheless we welcome feedback from any interested parties. 

You have the opportunity to provide relevant feedback, which may conflict with that of other stakeholders.  After the consultation has ended, we will consider all your feedback and then produce the final design proposal, which may differ from that described in this document.

The consultation begins on Monday 23rd November 2020 and close on 31st January 2021.  

We are consulting on two options:

  • Do nothing - Under this option no PRMS will be in place and construction of the wind farm will be unable to commence.  As such, the benefits of renewable energy will not be realised.
  • TMZ- This option will allow construction of the wind farm and the subsequent benefits

Consultation Material  (please download)

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What happens next

During consultation we gathered feedback from stakeholders and any interested parties. 

Responses will then be analysed and themed.  Shortly after the consultation finishes, we will publish a consultation feedback document, which will summarise the themes and Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd's response to any issues raised. 

The feedback document will be available for download via the CAA portal.  Any new requirements identified will be considered in the on-going design process.  The ACP will detail the design being submitted and make reference to changes that have been made to take account of consultation feedback.