NedPower Mount Storm Wind Energy Facility post-construction avian and bat monitoring: July–October 2011
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Published source details
Young D., Nomani S., Courage Z. & Bay K. (2012) NedPower Mount Storm Wind Energy Facility post-construction avian and bat monitoring: July–October 2011. Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) report.
Published source details Young D., Nomani S., Courage Z. & Bay K. (2012) NedPower Mount Storm Wind Energy Facility post-construction avian and bat monitoring: July–October 2011. Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) report.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Prevent turbine blades from turning at low wind speeds ('feathering') Action Link |
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Prevent turbine blades from turning at low wind speeds ('feathering')
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2011 at a wind energy facility in a forested area of West Virginia, USA (Young et al 2012; same site as Young et al 2011) found that automatically preventing turbine blades from turning at low wind speeds (‘feathering’) did not result in fewer bat fatalities than at conventional turbines. Average bat fatality estimates did not differ significantly between turbines with automatically feathered blades (6.5 bats/turbine) and conventional control turbines (7.4 bats/turbine). Five bat species were found across the site (see original report for details). Twelve turbines were assigned with the treatment (blades automatically feathered when wind speeds dropped below 4 m/s for at least 6 minutes). Twelve control turbines were left unaltered (blades rotated freely at wind speeds <4 m/s). The treatment was rotated between turbines weekly for 12 weeks in July–October 2011. Daily carcass searches were conducted along transects in plots up to 100 m around each of the 24 turbines. Carcass counts were corrected to account for searcher efficiency, removal by scavengers, and unsearchable areas within plots.
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
