Understanding The Real Risk of Bird Collision From Offshore Wind Farms
(Room Regency)
16 Oct 18
4:10 PM
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5:35 PM
Tracks:
Siting, Wildlife & Environmental Monitoring
Compliance with regulatory requirements demands clear evidence on how birds behave within and around offshore wind farms. However, there is considerable uncertainty whether birds recognize and avoid turbines. In permitting this is quantified as avoidance rates, which are used in behavioral models, but there are relatively few monitoring studies so far undertaken in offshore wind farms to monitor behavior and substantiate these rates. Up until now, avoidance rates have been estimated using data collected onshore. As a result the Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) Bird Collision Avoidance Study undertook 2 years of monitoring at Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, UK. The Project monitored seabirds using thermal cameras in digital communication with radar systems and combined laser rangefinders, surveillance and radars. The study provides vital insight of the actual behavior of birds to improve permitting processes using innovative monitoring and analysis methodology.