An ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will undertake a study to assess impacts of offshore wind turbine generators (WTG) on marine vessel radar and identify techniques that can be used to mitigate those impacts. The study will use a combination of literature review and, if informative and practical, apply or adapt existing models to:

• determine and characterize the impacts of WTG on efficacy of marine vessel radar operated on vessels both within and near existing offshore wind facilities, as well as those facilities anticipated to be installed over the next 15 years on the U.S. outer continental shelf; and
• identify actions that could be taken to reduce the impacts on marine vessel radar to preserve its use as a navigational aid for vessels both in and near WTG facilities.

The analysis of impacts to marine vessel radar will include, but not be limited to, parameters such as radar type, radar height, radar range, vessel type and size (vessel carrying radar and vessels to be detected), vessel speeds, turbine height, and turbine spacing. The study will analyze potential impacts from the WTG on the ability to navigate in adverse weather conditions and to detect small fixed objects such as buoys. The study will estimate the magnitude of clutter, mirroring, shadowing, and any other impacts observed or predicted to be caused by WTGs. Finally, the study will consider a variety of mitigation methods including signal filtering, radar antenna relocation, operational training, and replacement of new radar technology, as well as other possible approaches. The study will examine the feasibility of each proposed mitigation method based on vessel type.