Skip to content Intelligent lighting control systems for wind turbines – reducing light pollution and ensuring aviation safety
Senture GmbH develops advanced Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems that ensure aviation safety while minimizing unnecessary light emissions from wind turbines. Our radar-driven technology offers a reliable, compliant, and eco-friendly solution for modern wind farms.
Seamless Integration
Our systems are designed for compatibility with turbines from all major manufacturers, ensuring a smooth and cost-effective implementation.
Proven Technology
Backed by years of experience and partnerships with industry leaders, our radar-based solutions meet strict aviation and environmental standards.
Future-Ready Solutions
Our modular systems adapt to evolving regulations and technological advancements, ensuring long-term performance and compliance.
Wind turbines are key to clean energy — but their constant nighttime lights cause light pollution and disturb nearby communities.
ADLS solves this by supressing lights when the airspace around the windfarm is clear, reducing unnecessary emission and preserving the night sky.
Senture GmbH has been a leader in ADLS since 2008, partnering with top manufacturers like Vestas, Nordex, GE, Enercon, and Siemens Gamesa to deliver ready-to-deploy, regulation-compliant solutions across Europe.
Our ADLS technology combines advanced radar detection, reliable performance, and seamless connectivity to reduce unnecessary light emissions while maintaining aviation safety.
Reliable Detection
Ensures accurate identification of aircraft, reducing false activations caused by birds or other objects. Maximizes dark sky preservation.
Radar-Based Technology
Powered by high-end Scandinavian radar systems, ensuring durability, accuracy, and long-term performance in all weather conditions.
Seamless Connectivity
Our LCU integrates with turbines from various manufacturers, managing lights across entire wind farms with precision and ease.
Light Pollution Reduction
Senture ADLS minimizes unnecessary light emissions, helping wind farms meet environmental standards and protect wildlife.
Light Pollution Reduction
Senture ADLS minimizes unnecessary light emissions, helping wind farms meet environmental standards and protect wildlife.
Once an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) is commissioned, Senture provides detailed reports documenting achieved lights-off times.
Our standard reporting includes comprehensive daily logs with exact activation times, as well as summarized weekly and annual overviews — giving you full transparency.
Through our user-friendly online interface, customers can monitor real-time system data for maximum performance insight and operational assurance.
Get clear answers to key questions about ADLS and how it can improve wind turbine lighting.
Wind turbines are fitted with obstruction lights to make their towers visible to air traffic at night and prevent collisions with airplanes or helicopters. Specific requirements—such as the minimum tower height that triggers lighting, permitted light colors and intensities, and mounting intervals—differ by country and are defined in the regulations of each national aviation authority. Demand-controlled systems, which only flash when an aircraft is detected nearby, are often used to minimize light pollution and reduce energy consumption.
An Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) works by using radar (primary radar systems) or transponder interrogators (secondary radar systems) to monitor the airspace around wind turbines.
Here’s how it operates:
By only activating the lights when necessary, ADLS enhances aviation safety while reducing the environmental and community impact of continuous lighting.
The primary reason for implementing an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) is to address the growing concern of light pollution, which has increasingly become a point of annoyance for local residents. ADLS effectively reduces unnecessary light emissions by activating obstruction lights only when aircraft are detected nearby, thus minimizing the impact on the environment and surrounding communities.
Key Benefits of ADLS:
Reduced Light Pollution: ADLS systems ensure that lights are only on when needed, significantly decreasing the amount of light pollution caused by constant illumination. This helps to preserve the natural night environment and improve the quality of life for nearby residents.
Community and Environmental Benefits: By limiting unnecessary light emissions, ADLS systems contribute to a more peaceful and less disruptive environment for local communities and wildlife. This balanced approach supports both human and ecological well-being.
Within a single wind farm, obstruction lights are usually synchronized to flash in unison—streamlining compliance and minimizing continuous glare. However, turbines operated by different operators—even when sited side-by-side—often run independent Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) and Automatic Light Control (OLC) configurations. This means neighboring turbines can exhibit distinct flash patterns and timings, which can subtly increase wind turbine light pollution unless all operators adhere to harmonized illumination guidelines.
Since as of today there is no international regulation on Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems, a number of synonyms are being used.
Other common names for Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) include:
These terms highlight the technology’s function in automatically activating lights based on the presence of nearby aircraft.
Exact predictions with percentage values are generally difficult to make. In some wind farms, the our radar-based ADLS installations achieve “lights-off” periods of nearly 100%. However, this depends heavily on the location and the region. Near an airport, the reduction in lighting is not nearly as significant, simply because the level of air traffic is too high. In general, it is crucial to ensure the safety of air traffic. Therefore, it is not practical to provide or interpret percentage figures without considering the specific location.
An ADLS is designed with failsafe technology. More precisely, it doesn’t activate the lights when needed; it actually suppresses the lights when there is no need for them. In the event of a system failure, this suppression is automatically lifted, ensuring that the lights remain on at all times for safety. This means that if the system isn’t functioning with absolute certainty, the lights will automatically be on to maintain airtraffic safety. For simplicity, we often refer to this process as the activation of lights.
Radar-based ADLS and transponder-based ADLS are both technologies used in Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLS) to reduce light emissions from wind farms by managing obstruction lights based on aircraft presence, but they operate differently:
Radar-Based ADLS:
1. Detection Method:
– Uses radar technology to continuously scan the airspace around the structure.
– Radar waves are emitted and bounce off aircraft, which are then detected by the radar system.
2. Functionality:
– Detects the presence and movement of aircraft within a certain range.
– Can detect both the position and speed of aircraft, allowing for precise activation and deactivation of lights.
3. Advantages:
– Works independently of aircraft avionics, as it does not rely on the aircraft’s own systems.
– Can detect all types of aircraft, including those without transponders or those operating in areas with poor transponder coverage.
Transponder-Based ADLS:
1. Detection Method:
– Relies on aircraft transponders, which are electronic devices on aircraft that contiously send out radio signals.
– The ADLS system receives the signal from aircraft transponders and calculates its position and course.
2. Functionality:
– Detects aircraft that are equipped with transponders, including their position and course.
3. Advantages:
– less expensive than radar-based systems, as it leverages existing aircraft technology.
4. Limitations:
– Limited to aircraft that have operational transponders, which might not include all aircraft, especially in less regulated or remote areas.
– May not detect aircraft that are not transmitting or are equipped with non-standard transponders.
Summary:
Radar-Based ADLS provides comprehensive detection capabilities and does not depend on aircraft equipment but can be more costly and complex. Transponder-Based ADLS leverages existing aircraft transponder technology for detection and can be more cost-effective, but is limited to detecting aircraft equipped with transponders.
The installation of an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) typically takes between 12 and 18 months. The exact duration depends on the requirements set by National Aviation Authorities and the time needed for review and approval processes. Here’s an overview of the most important project steps:
1. Site Assessment: Evaluate the installation site to determine specific requirements and constraints.
2. Line-of-Sight Analysis: Analyze the visibility and detection range to ensure system performance.
3. System Design: Develop a detailed design of the ADLS based on site assessment and line-of-sight analysis.
4. Acquisition of Required Permits: Obtain necessary permits such as building permits, frequency usage permits, and other regulatory approvals.
5. Upgrade of Installed Base: Modify or upgrade existing aviation lighting systems as necessary to integrate with the new ADLS.
6. Installation of ADLS: Physically install the ADLS equipment on-site.
7. Integration into Wind Farm SCADA: Connect and integrate the ADLS with the wind farm’s SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system for seamless operation.
8. Commissioning: Conduct initial system setup and configuration to prepare the ADLS for testing.
9. Testing: Perform thorough testing, including a functional test with an aerial survey (test flights) to ensure proper operation.
10. Approval: Obtain final approval from Aviation Authorities, which includes demonstrating the system’s compliance and functionality.
For a detailed schedule, please refer to the typical timeline available here:
Understanding these stages helps in planning and setting realistic expectations for your ADLS installation.
Fill out the form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible with answers, guidance, or a quote tailored to your needs.
As a leading provider of ADLS solutions, we proudly collaborate with renowned global turbine manufacturers and suppliers. These strong partnerships ensure seamless integration, high-quality implementation, reliable operation across diverse markets.
Leading manufacturer of ADLS-ready windturbines using Senture LCU (Light Control Units)
Supplier of high-quality surveillance radar systems as detection device for Senture ADLS Solution
Supplier of bespoke Primary and Secondary Radar Systems for the modular Senture ADLS solution
Supplier of high-quality surveillance radar systems as detection device for Senture ADLS Solution
Esteemed manufacturer of windturbines in combination with Senture turn-key ADLS solution
Leading manufacturer of ADLS-ready windturbines using Senture LCU (Light Control Units)
Supplier of high-quality obstruction marking for wind turbines as part of the Senture turn-key ADLS solution
Let us help you find the right solution — request a free quote today!
We develop and deliver Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems to reduce light pollution and ensure safety
About ADLS
How It Works
Company
Resources
Let us help you find the right solution — request a free quote today!
We develop and deliver Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems to reduce light pollution and ensure safety
About ADLS
How It Works
Company
Resources
All rights reserved. © 2025 Senture GmbH
Let us help you find the right solution — request a free quote today!
We develop and deliver Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems to reduce light pollution and ensure safety
About ADLS
How It Works
Company
Resources
All rights reserved. © 2025 Senture GmbH
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