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New Tech Tracks Bird Safety Around Sea Turbines
2 Oct
Summary
- New technology uses thermal cameras and AI to track bird safety at sea.
- A year-long study monitored millions of birds migrating across the North Sea.
- Measures like painting turbine blades black show promise in reducing bird deaths.
A groundbreaking year-long study employed advanced thermal cameras and artificial intelligence to monitor bird migration patterns across the North Sea. This innovative technology was tested at the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm, enabling researchers to track bird and bat movements day and night, even in adverse weather conditions. The initiative, a collaboration between Vattenfall, Wildlife Imaging Systems, and Wageningen University & Research, aimed to better understand potential collisions between migrating birds and offshore wind turbines.
Over the study period, which encompassed both spring and autumn migration seasons, 22 potential bird collisions were identified, with two confirmed and one highly probable. While these initial results from a single turbine are not conclusive for all offshore wind farms, they offer valuable empirical data. Previous research, including a study by the German Offshore Wind Energy Association, indicated that over 99.8% of migratory birds successfully avoided turbines.
Conservation efforts are crucial despite these findings, as many seabird species are already endangered. One successful measure tested at Norway's Smola wind farm involved painting a single turbine blade black, which reportedly reduced avian fatalities by 70%. Experts continue to explore strategies such as strategic turbine placement and enhanced visibility technologies to protect flying wildlife while advancing Europe's clean energy goals.
