Recommended Practices for Wind Turbine Testing - 5. Electromagnetic Interference Preparatory Information - Issue 1 - February 1986

Sep 4, 2026

Wind turbine electromagnetic interference evaluation procedures must account for multiple interacting parameters, including the frequency, antenna characteristics, and spatial relationship of susceptible radio systems to the wind energy conversion system, as well as the modulation scheme. Wind energy system factors include machine type, blade geometry, materials’ electromagnetic properties, and support-tower height, plus the geometry and location of any metal elements on dielectric-blade machines. Local terrain around both wind and radio sites further shapes outcomes, motivating case-by-case studies and shared findings to support later guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

1. Introduction

2. The Mechanism by Which Wind Turbines May Generate Interference

3. The Electromagnetics Scattering Properties of Wind Turbines

4. Relevant Wind Turbine Generator Parameters

5. Relevant Parameters of the Potential Vulnerable Radio Services

6. Specific Radio Services

7. Interim Assessment

8. Conclusions

9. Acknowledgements

10. References

EXPERT GROUP STUDYON RECOMMENDED PRACTICESFOR WIND TURBINE TESTINGAND EVALUATION 5.ELECTROMAGNETICINTERFERENCE PREPARATORY INFORMATION Submitted to the Executive Committeeof the International Energy Agency Programmefor Research und Developmenton Wind Energy Conversion Systems RECOMMENDED PRACTICESFOR WIND TURBINE TESTING 5.ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCEPREPARATORY INFORMATION ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 1986 Edited by: Richard J.ChignellERA Technology Ltd.Cleeve RoadLeatherheadSurrey KT227SAUnited Kingdom FOREWORD The evaluation of wind turbines must encompass all aspects of a Wind Energy ConversionSystem(WECS)ranging from:energy production,quality of power,reliability,durabilityand safety,through to cost effectiveness or economics,noise characteristics,impact on theenvironment and electromagnetic interference.The development of international agreedupon evaluation procedures for each of these areas is needed now to aid in the developmentof the industry while strengthening confidence and preventing chaos in the market. It is the purpose of the proposed recommendations for wind turbine testing to addressthe development of internationally agreed upon test procedures which deal with each ofthe above noted aspects for characterizing wind turbines.The IEA expert committee willpursue this effort by periodically holding meetings of experts,to define and refine con-sensus evaluation procedures in each of the areas: 1)Power Performance 2)Cost of Energy from WECS 3)Fatigue Evaluation 4)Acoustics 5)Electromagnetic Interference 6)Safety and Reliability 7)Quality of Power For items,1,2,3,4 and 7 documents have been issued during the years 1982-1984.How-ever items 5 and 6 have turned out to be difficult to treat within the same frameworkas items 1-4 and 7.The present paper which addresses item 5 therefore is presented aspreparatory information on the subject of Electromagnetic Interference. In spite of this limited scope it is felt that the information contained in this paper can beof great value to planning authorities and to manufacturers and users of wind turbinesand therefore justifies the presentation of the document in this series of RecommendedPractices. Contents 1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 2. THE MECHANISM BY WHICH WIND TURBINES MAY GENERATE INTERFERENCE ……………………………………………………………………5 3. THE ELECTROMAGNETICS SCATTERING PROPERTIES OF WIND TURBINES………………………………………………………………………………………………6 4. RELEVANT WIND TURBINE GENERATOR PARAMETERS………………………7 5. RELEVANT PARAMETERS OF THE POTENTIAL VULNERABLE RADIO SERVICES……………………………………………………………………………8 6.SPECIFIC RADIO SERVICES…………………………………………………………………………………………9 7.INTERIM ASSESSMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………………11 8. CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………………………………………13 10. REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………14 # 1.INTRODUCTION The procedures necessary for evaluating the electromagnetic interference effects of windturbines on radio services involve many parameters.These include the frequency of thesusceptible radio system,its antenna characteristics,their spatial position relative to thewind energy system and the modulation scheme.The relevant parameters of the windenergy system include the type of machine,vertical or horizontal axis,the diameter andnumber of its blades,their shape and electromagnetic properties of their materials,andthe height of the support tower.[1]Also relevant for machines with blades made of dielectricmaterials are the shape and location of any metal parts,such as lightning conductors,orspars.[2]The performance is also dependent upon the local terrain around the sites of boththe wind energy and radio systems.[3] An Expert Group of the International Energy Agency has investigated the problem andfound that a large number of radio systems are potentially at risk from interference gene-rated by wind turbines

FAQs

What parameters are involved in evaluating electromagnetic interference effects on radio services?

Evaluation requires the frequency and antenna characteristics of the susceptible radio system, its spatial position relative to the wind energy system, and the modulation scheme, along with wind-system characteristics that influence emissions.

Which wind energy system parameters affect electromagnetic interference?

Key parameters include machine type (vertical or horizontal axis), rotor diameter, blade number and shape, materials’ electromagnetic properties, and the support tower height; for dielectric-blade machines, the shape and location of metal parts are also important.

Why does the document recommend guidance rather than a single all-encompassing testing code at this stage?

The group cannot produce a recommended code of practice without becoming overly restrictive because of the many potentially susceptible radio services and limited available data, so case-by-case studies and shared published findings are encouraged.

Sep 4, 2026

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