TY - RPRT
TI - Interference of Flying Insects and Wind Parks
AU - Trieb, F
AB - The study investigates possible coherence of flying insect losses recently discovered in Germany andinsect impingement on the rotor blades of wind turbines.Evidence from literature confirms that migrating insects select fast air streams above the turbulentsurface layer of the atmosphere for the purpose of efficient displacement to breeding grounds. Windfarm developers select sites with strong winds and install high towers with rotors just above thesurface layer in order to optimize the energy output of their wind turbines. As a result of thiscoincidence, large numbers of flying insects can be expected in wind farms.Model calculation of the amount of insect biomass that traverses wind rotors during operationprovides a first estimate of the order of magnitude of 24,000 tons of insects crossing the Germanwind park throughout the summer season. Based on conservative model assumptions, five percent ofthe insects flying through a rotor could be actually damaged. The related loss of 1,200 tons per yearsince more than fifteen years could be relevant for population stability.Species flying at critical rotor heights between 20 and 220 meters above ground level in addition tothose already found within this study should urgently be identified by DNA meta-barcoding of thedeposits that are regularly found on rotor blades. In addition to that, wind farms should be enabledto recognize approaching insect swarms and to react accordingly for their protection andconservation.
DA - 2018/10//
PY - 2018
SP - 30
PB - German Aerospace Center (DLR)
UR - https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/interference-of-flying-insects-and-wind-parks/
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Land-Based Wind
KW - Displacement
KW - Collision
KW - Attraction
ER -