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Vineyard Wind Completes Integration of Aircraft Detection Lighting System Across All Installed Turbines, Reducing Nighttime Visual Impact

2 months ago
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Vineyard Wind Completes Integration of Aircraft Detection Lighting System Across All Installed Turbines, Reducing Nighttime Visual Impact

Key Insights

  • Vineyard Wind has successfully integrated its Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) across all currently installed offshore wind turbines.

  • The ADLS activates FAA-required lighting only when aircraft are within a specified radius, significantly reducing continuous nighttime illumination.

  • This deployment marks Vineyard Wind as the first offshore project to voluntarily commit to and implement ADLS, enhancing community relations and environmental considerations.

  • The complex technological integration involved extensive coordination with contractors like GE Vernova and Semco, ensuring compliance with aviation safety regulations.

BOSTON, MA – July 31, 2025 – Vineyard Wind announced today the full integration of its Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) across all installed wind turbines, a significant milestone that will substantially reduce the visual impact of the offshore project's lighting at night. This radar-activated system, which illuminates FAA-required obstruction lights only when aircraft are within a specified proximity, marks a critical advancement in balancing aviation safety with environmental and community considerations for large-scale offshore wind developments. The completion follows months of intensive work and coordination, positioning Vineyard Wind as a pioneer in adopting this voluntary measure.

The ADLS technology, procured from qualified contractors including GE Vernova and Semco, ensures compliance with federal aviation safety regulations while minimizing light pollution. Prior to this full integration, Vineyard Wind had established a functioning radar system across the entire project radius by early July 2025, with over 60% of installed turbines already connected to the lighting system. The final phase of integration throughout July 2025 brought the remaining turbines online, ensuring that lights will now flash only when an aircraft enters the project's detection zone, ceasing once it exits. This dynamic activation is a stark contrast to continuous illumination, addressing a key concern for coastal communities.

Klaus S. Møller, CEO of Vineyard Wind, emphasized the company's commitment to the neighboring island communities. "Recognizing that this lighting system is a critical priority for our neighboring island communities, Vineyard Wind has worked hard for the past year to accelerate the deployment and implementation of ADLS across the project as quickly as possible," Møller stated. He acknowledged the complexity of the technology, which required extensive collaboration between various contractors and construction teams, thanking them for their efforts as commissioning continues. As the project progresses, the ADLS will be extended to additional turbines brought online.

The proactive adoption of ADLS by Vineyard Wind sets a precedent for future offshore wind projects, demonstrating a viable pathway to mitigate visual impacts while upholding stringent safety standards. This initiative reflects a broader industry trend towards more environmentally conscious development practices, particularly as offshore wind capacity expands in the U.S. Northeast. The successful deployment underscores the technical feasibility of integrating advanced radar and lighting systems into complex energy infrastructure, paving the way for similar solutions in other large-scale renewable energy installations globally. While commissioning continues, occasional blinking lights may be observed due to ongoing system integration and new turbine installations.