The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast

The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast


EP56 – Yes, Those Flashing Red Obstruction Lights Have a Story. With Jeff Grabner of Technostrobe

April 14, 2021

Jeff Grabner, managing director for wind at Technostrobe, joined us to share the story of those mysterious flashing red lights that we all have seen blinking atop wind turbines. These aviation obstruction lights--which are FAA mandated to keep aircraft safe--have a contentious history with local residents and are often brought up in town hall meetings where concerns are voiced about new wind projects. Companies like Technostrobe help reduce light pollution and allay residents' concerns, while still meeting FAA requirements for aircraft safety.

Like all wind turbine parts, quite a lot of thought and engineering goes into making these lights are effective, powerful and efficient while also being as unobtrusive as possible to neighboring communities. Listen in as Jeff explains the technology behind Technostrobe's aviation obstruction lights, their unique LIDS system that dims them when weather conditions allow, and how the industry as a whole is moving to making living near a wind farm as easy as possible for local residents.

This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!