Palindrome Remote Sensing

Wind turbines have a disturbing influence on air traffic and meteorological radars due to the high reflectivity of their rotors. These radars are therefore blind in the vicinity of a wind turbine with the consequence that approximately 23% of all the wind energy projects that are planned in Switzerland cannot be approved due to security risks. An amount of approximately 14GWh of wind energy is thereby inhibited per year in Switzerland.

Palindrome Remote Sensing develops and produces radar target simulators. These transponder systems send a specific answer back to a radar based on the emitted signals of this radar. The answer generated by the target simulator is then interpreted as a real target by the radar in is shown as such in the radar’s data.

Our company has developed a specific target simulator, which modulates incoming radar signals such that realistic virtual wind turbines can be generated on the radar screen. With this instrument, realistic wind turbines can be generated in air traffic control radars such that the compatibility with the radar can be ensured before the actual wind turbine is being built.

With our technology, which is supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation, the Federal Office of Energy and the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, the radar’s data processing chain to suppress the influence of wind turbines can be significantly improved and the wind turbine project can be precisely adapted to fulfill the compatibility requirements of the radar operators. By reducing the rejection rate by only 5%, 3GWh of wind energy can be additionally installed per year in Switzerland.