Wind turbines in Sweden(near Onsala)

Magnus ThomassonOnsala Space Observatory

Sweden

Onsala Space Observatory

Onsala Space Observatory

• Wind turbines near Onsala Space Observatory in the past

• The present situation• Protection of research (law)• Legal matters• General plan for wind power in

Kungsbacka municipality

Content

Onsala Space Observatory

Where is Onsala Space Observatory?

Here Kungsbacka

10 km

Gothenburg

Onsala Space Observatory

• Building permits handled by Kungsbacka municipality (“kommun”)

• Kungsbacka asks OSO• We check: will it cause RFI?• Kungsbacka follows our recommendation• No major problems

History: wind turbines and OSO

Onsala Space Observatory

Main concern: scattering• Line-of-sight?• Based partly on reports from

the Swedish military (radars)

Red+green areas: > 100 m is visible

Onsala Space Observatory

• Large interest in wind turbines– General public, politicians, entrepreneurs, ...

• Bigger structures• More money involved• More legal processes (appeals)• Problems for everyone

Now: wind turbines and OSO

Onsala Space Observatory

Locations of planned wind turbines

Onsala Space Observatory

• Is OSO affected by wind turbines?

How much?• Does OSO have the legal right to

“complain” about wind turbines? Too far away (legally)?

• Case taken to the Supreme Administrative Court

Legal matters

Onsala Space Observatory

Law: Protection of research sensitive to disturbances (SFS 2006:449)

• Restricted access (decided by County Administrative Board in Halland)

• Other possibilities to protect too (but hardly in practice)

• No protection against wind turbines

Onsala Space Observatory

• Draft, no decision yet• Many aspects (incl. radio astronomy)• Suggestions for location of wind turbines:

– Not closer than 15 km from OSO– Not at sea– Not at the coast– Not in the “flat country”– Possible in the “inland” (eastern part of the area)– RFI should be taken into account– Generally positive to radio astronomy

General plan for wind power in Kungsbacka municipality

Onsala Space Observatory

Possible location of wind turbines in Kungsbacka municipality

Onsala Space Observatory

• Use this procedure:– Determine incoming radiation (to the wind

turbine), intensities and frequencies– Primary emission given by manufacturer– Detailed calculation of RFI level at OSO

(A plan is very useful!)

OSOs respons to the draft plan

Onsala Space Observatory

• Clear rules, procedures• Better knowledge about RFI from wind

turbines• Better knowledge about RFI level in general

What do we need?

Onsala Space Observatory

The end

Onsala Space Observatory

Onsala Space Observatory