17 February 2004
In letters to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Department of Trade and Industry, the Royal Society has raised concerns over the number of wind farm pre-applications opposed by the MoD on grounds of interference with air defence radars. According to figures from the British Wind Energy Association, the MoD objected to 48 per cent of pre-applications to build land-based wind farms in 2003, and 34 per cent of pre-applications in 2002.
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As was also highlighted in our response to the House of Lords Science and Technology inquiry into the practicalities of developing renewable energy, the Royal Society considers that MoD objections may be placing a significant obstacle on the UK Governments targets of supplying 10% of electricity from renewables sources by 2010.
Press Release
Press release - Ministry of Defence may be putting renewable energy targets at risk
Related Royal Society reports
Royal Society & the Royal Academy of Engineering (1999). Nuclear Energy - The future climate