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Wind energy infrastructure hindering Japan's defense radars: sources

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The recent shift to windpower generation could be an attempt by inflitrators in high places to undermine Japan's defense capabilities

-22 ( +3 / -25 )

Wind power works in some places, but not all places.

Solar power works in some places, but not all places.

Water power works in some places, but not all places.

Geothermal power works in some places. but not all places.

etc.

This is the reality folks.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

But hey, even the leftists are craning for nuke power.

My jaw dropped when a former hard-core leftist friend stated as much.

One of the rare views we agreed on.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Unbelievable. Isn’t it somewhat easy nowadays to filter those specific radar patterns and mark as static or just consider using all those loudly promoted AI and large supercomputers to detect or predict that those signals are stemming from stationary wind turbines, not flying objects like missiles or enemy planes?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

"The trade and industry ministry and the Defense Ministry should have coordinated on this."

The interference has been described widely for more than one decade already, so there is no excuse in not coordinating between all the different organizations that use radar.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

"The trade and industry ministry and the Defense Ministry should have coordinated on this."

A lack of co-ordination between japanese misitries.

I am shocked. I mean really shocked.

This is truly regrettable and requires deep reflection.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Bizarre that this apparently seems to be a Japan specific problem. I don't really have any specialist knowledge, but is the rest of the world unaware of this and creating defense issues, or are Japanese wind turbines unique? Whatever, it does sound stunningly incompetent if this is a well known issue that they haven't built safeguards into the planning and approval process before.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

So North Korea can force Japan back to coal then? That's a win for Pyongyang. Re-starting the nuke plants is also useful for NK, as they can be recycled as nuclear bombs.

quote: 2,574 wind power turbines.

The UK has half the population of JP, over 11,000 turbines and no defence/radar problems reported. Get on with it, Japan.

Given that Russia has hypersonic missiles, would share with its allies, and could launch them from subs, how much of a warning are you expecting to get?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Do not tell your enemy

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Wave energy works all the time the oceans have tides. It is sometimes called tidal energy. I'm a little surprised that Japan doesn't lead the world. I suppose the fishing boats wouldn't like the wave energy infrastructure?

Current projects are in Portugal, Wales, Scotland, Korea, and New York with many others beyond feasibility study.

I guess they couldn't place a Satellite in low orbit for the tracking of missiles from N. Korea / China ?

LEO satellites don't sit over 1 spot on the Earth. They have a 90 minute orbital period, so an array would be necessary. At least 24, but hundreds would be better.

Geostationary satellites rotate at the same speed the Earth rotates, but those sit at 35,786 km (22K miles) over the equator ... so around Singapore which is at 3°N or just a bit north of Papua New Guinea which is barely in the southern hemisphere.

With a properly designed orbit, a figure 8 with a small part of the upper loop will be over Japan, but 50% of that orbit will be in the southern hemisphere. Look up the orbit for Syncom-2 or QZSS. I'd guess (I don't know), at least 4 satellites would be needed to provide acceptable coverage. Japan and Australia could work together on this, since both countries are going to be flown over by any figure-8 or fish-style (body+tail) ground track.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Oops!!!!!!!!!!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Uhhh, then why are they using it?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Lockheed Martin TPS-77 radar as used in the UK to overcome the same problem and allow large offshore wind turbine developments.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This makes no sense. The SDF is creating a Marginot Line of radar defense. The wind farms should be integrated into the defense network creating a deeper, more penetrating radar defense system. These wind turbines will also act as dynamic obstacles for incoming missiles requiring more active locating by the incoming missiles so as not to impact them. Either forcing them to go around, go above or destroying the turbines themselves in the first place only adds to Japan's defense grid. Energy security is of paramount importance now, more so, than tired generals complaining about having to do more...

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Maybe it's just me, but I hate wind energy. It destroys the beauty of the environment and is dangerous for wildlife - namely birds and bats. It is inconsistent and I don't think it is all that economical. How durable are those blades in storms? Expensive to build, noisy to a certain extent, ugly, dangerous to birds/bats, etc.

This is NOT the answer to our energy needs.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Uhhh, then why are they using it?

There is this whole thing about nations needing energy to run, and having to find ways to generate it based on their available resources if they want energy independence, which is another form of security. There's this other whole thing about nuance where a balance needs to be found between competing motivations, such as security vs. energy.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Maybe it's just me, but I hate wind energy. It destroys the beauty of the environment

That shouldn't be our primary motivation at a time when our current energy uses are destroying the environment itself, not just its beauty. And on a personal level, I disagree. I love seeing wind farms. I remember some in Hawaii that were really cool.

is dangerous for wildlife - namely birds and bats.

That's no good. It would be good to find ways to mitigate this, to 'announce' to the birds and bats, maybe through sonar or certain pitched noises, to stay away.

This is NOT the answer to our energy needs.

There is no single answer to our energy needs with our current technology or even knowledge of it. There are various ideas we have to try, each that can chip away at the current fossil-fuel based energy production we are currently so reliant upon. Wind power is one that has already proven itself. Others are also necessary.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This wind turbines have a very short life. They produce less energy. They are a big junk after its short life. They kill all sorts of birds. And there you go, they interfere with the defense radar putting the national security of Japan at risk.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

This wind turbines have a very short life. They produce less energy. They are a big junk after its short life.

Yeah? I'm a bit skeptical mate. Got something that explains this?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Here's another reason to dump wind turbines;

Of the world's top 10 Wind Turbine manufacturers, 6 are Chinese.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@OssanAmerica,

That is because the nuclear village in Japan made it almost impossible for Japanese alternative energy start-ups to get on the power grid.

Meanwhile the Chinese saw business opportunities much like the Japanese did in the 60s,70s,80s.....before they became too bloated.

This is what happens when you are in bed with each other,i.e.,Japan Inc.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Bizarre that this apparently seems to be a Japan specific problem. I don't really have any specialist knowledge, but is the rest of the world unaware of this and creating defense issues, or are Japanese wind turbines unique?

No. The US has experienced problems with both air defense and air traffic control radars caused by wind turbines as far back as the early 2000s. Wind turbine projects in the US have been delayed to allow changes that address these problems. The UK MoD has worked with their Parliament to produce regulations on wind turbine placement so as not to degrade the performance of their air defense radars.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This wind turbines have a very short life. They produce less energy. They are a big junk after its short life. 

All forms of power generation have a limited lifespan. Steam plants last maybe 50 years. Nuclear power plants about the same. PV solar panels are good for maybe 25-30 years. I know of wind turbines that are older than than already and they are still working.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bizarre that this apparently seems to be a Japan specific problem.

How did you come to that conclusion?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

https://windeurope.org/summit2018/files/downloads/aviation/Maurice-Dixon-Wind-Turbine-Impact-on-Military-Radars.pdf

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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