Abstract
Renewable energy sources are critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the momentum of wind energy development in Victoria is now increasing to meet renewable energy targets. However, these developments also have direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on biodiversity, and fatalities of birds and bats due to collisions with wind turbines are of particular concern. Given the concerns about managing these impacts, and calls from the energy sector for guidance documents to improve clarity and consistency, a robust evidence base is required for decision making. Onshore wind energy has been used in parts of the world for many decades, and some of the questions relevant to Victoria in relation to wind energy and biodiversity have already been well-studied elsewhere. Guidelines, policies and practices developed for Victoria can draw on this large body of evidence, acknowledging that there may be important differences within the Victorian context that need to be considered. While there are many existing guidelines, handbooks, and protocols from elsewhere in the world, it is sometimes difficult to determine what evidence underpins the various recommendations contained within these, and how they apply to Victorian species and landscapes. Our objective here was to systematically review the primary literature associated with wind energy research undertaken globally. From this, we sought to provide a comprehensive but accessible summary of both what is known and the key knowledge gaps as they apply to Victoria, and to make the link between the trends that we highlight and the associated evidence clear.