Abstract
Summary Objectives: To aid in the licensing of round three windfarm development looking at 1) collating key details on collision risk to birds from offshore wind installations, 2) Id range of existing and novel avian collision mitigation options, 3) Estimate the extent to which these options could minimise bird collisions, 4) contribute to development of a quantitative model for the wind industry to use as a tool to reduce bird fatalities. Key Customer Purpose: As there is little sound evidence to support arguments for or against in-combination effects of wind farms, regulators need to resort to highly precautionary approaches until information becomes available. The currently identified mitigation option of enforcement of a mandatory shut down of some or all wind turbines within a wind farm during certain periods (e.g. during migration or breeding seasons), seriously impacts the financial viability of wind farm proposals and could halt the future expansion of offshore wind farms. This project seeks ways to identify options to reduce bird collision and develop a quantitative model for the wind industry to reduce bird fatalities.
United Kingdom