MoD challenges four windfarm projects over military radar concerns
The Ministry of Defence has objected to at least four planned windfarms in the past year, citing concerns that spinning turbine blades could interfere with military radar systems. The latest objection targets the Hope Moor project in County Durham, which would comprise 23 turbines standing up to 200 metres tall and is designated as nationally significant, with its fate to be decided by the energy secretary. These objections put the MoD on a collision course with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which lifted a decade-long ban on onshore wind development in England when Labour came to power in 2024.
The MoD has also raised concerns about three other planned windfarms: Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire (six turbines), a 13-turbine project near the Scottish borders, and an 87-turbine offshore array in the Irish Sea. Whilst the ministry has a lengthy track record of such objections, industry sources note these rarely block projects outright; instead, they typically trigger negotiations leading to minor adjustments to turbine size or height. The government aims to double the UK's onshore wind capacity by 2030, though opposition campaigns, notably the 'Not One Moor' campaign led by former England cricketer Lord Botham, are using the MoD's interventions to support their arguments against development.
- MoD objects to four windfarms over radar interference fears
- Tensions mount as government pushes to double onshore wind capacity by 2030
- Historical pattern suggests objections lead to negotiations rather than outright blocks
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The Ministry of Defence has begun raising concerns about proposed windfarms, objecting that spinning turbine blades could interfere with military radar systems. This has become a pressing issue because the government lifted a decade-long ban on onshore wind development in 2024 and is planning to significantly expand wind capacity as part of its energy strategy.
These objections put the MoD at odds with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which is driving the government's renewable energy agenda. Campaign groups opposed to wind development are also citing the military's concerns to strengthen their arguments against expansion.
Historically, the MoD's objections to windfarms have rarely prevented projects from going ahead, instead prompting negotiations between the ministry and developers about adjustments to turbine design or location. The current situation reflects a broader tension between the government's renewable energy targets and other national priorities, particularly defence considerations.
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The case for
The urgent imperative to address climate change and energy security justifies proceeding with onshore wind development, particularly given the MoD's demonstrated track record of securing acceptable compromises through negotiation rather than outright project cancellation. The government has explicitly committed to doubling onshore wind capacity by 2030 as essential to meeting net zero targets and reducing energy dependence; delaying or blocking major projects would undermine this critical policy goal. Since military radar concerns have historically been resolved through proportionate adjustments to turbine specifications, the MoD's role should be to identify technical solutions rather than veto projects that serve broader national security interests in climate stability and energy independence.
The case against
Military radar systems represent irreplaceable defence infrastructure whose effective functioning is non-negotiable for national security; any compromise to their capability could impair early warning systems or air defence with potentially severe consequences. Once windfarms are constructed, remediation options become severely limited, making it imperative to err on the side of caution when new infrastructure could degrade critical military functions. The government has alternative pathways to meet renewable energy targets through offshore wind, grid modernisation, and other technologies that do not risk compromising defence capabilities; there is no necessity to choose between military security and climate goals if viable options exist.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “MoD has objected to four windfarms in past year over radar interference fears”.