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By working in close partnership, East Midlands Airport, Aveillant and Severn Trent have achieved a world first in civil aviation by installing Aveillant’s pioneering technology.

Following extensive testing and field trials Aveillant’s new holographic radar technology received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 2016. Severn Trent and East Midlands Airport then worked together to develop detailed arrangements and procedures allowing operation of this unique technology.

Andy Smith, Managing Director of Business Services at Severn Trent, said: “It’s great news that the turbines can start turning full-time and we’d like to thank East Midlands Airport and Aveillant for all their support. The turbines will generate enough electricity to power around 3,000 homes a year which contributes to our pledge to self-generate the equivalent of half of Severn Trent Water’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2020.”

Andy Cliffe, Managing Director East Midlands Airport, said: “We’re delighted to see the two wind turbines at Spondon begin to generate power. This project has been a long time in the planning with a rigorous testing process to ensure that our operation remains unaffected. Working collaboratively with Severn Trent and Aveillant has allowed us to be part of this and we’re extremely pleased with the outcome.”

David Crisp, Aveillant’s CEO, said: "We’re very pleased to see the project completed and to have attained another world-first in radar technology. Wind farm clutter is a problem for many Primary Surveillance Radars, and only Aveillant’s technology solves the issues at root, without the need to blank out areas of coverage. It’s really good to see the turbines turning.”

The turbines will continue to be switched on and off in the coming weeks as part of further testing to ensure that everything is working as expected.

In addition to the turbines, Severn Trent has started to build a food waste anaerobic digestion plant at the Spondon site that will turn contaminated food, which would normally go to landfill, into clean energy.

Notes to editors

•    The turbines are owned and operated by Severn Trent’s non-regulated business which is separate to the regulated business which provides water and waste services to homes and businesses across the Midlands and mid-Wales. That means the delay has had no impact on customer bills, which remain the lowest average combined bills in Britain.

•    Severn Trent is on track to self-generate the equivalent of 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. In addition to wind turbines, Severn Trent generates green power at sites across the region through the anaerobic digestion of sludge, crops and food waste, as well as by using hydro and solar technology – all of which generate around 34% of their energy needs today