Abstract
Globally, millions of bats are killed by wind energy turbines each year, and bat fatality rates increase as wind energy expands with demand for cheap energy and to meet global decarbonization targets. Wind energy is an important part of a renewable energy strategy to reduce the use of fossil fuels, but sustainable use of wind energy depends on avoiding biodiversity loss. Monitoring the number of bats killed at turbines is a first step to estimate the impact. Bat fatality data that are available indicate that wind energy is one of the leading causes of direct mortality of migrating bats around the world. Yet we do not know how many bats are killed at wind turbines in many places, specifically in emerging markets; partly because this information is not released. Scientists are currently researching the scope of this threat and exploring solutions that protect bats at wind turbines.
Fact Sheet on Migratory Bats and Wind Energy
Fiche d'information sur les chauves-souris migratrices et énergie éolienne
Hoja informativa sobre murciélagos migratorios y energía eólica