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Collision

Birds flying past a wind turbine farm
Direct contact between an animal and a device component.

Any part of a renewable energy device that moves has the potential to have a deleterious effect on both resident and migratory organisms. Collisions between animals and tidal or wind turbine blades could result in injury or death, either by direct contact with the device or by pressure changes created around the moving parts. The probability of a collision with a blade may vary based on the rotational or mechanical speed of the moving parts, the presence and density of animals in the area, the time of day, weather conditions, and the ability of animals to sense and evade the device. Carcasses found around land-based wind turbines provide an estimate of bird and bat fatalities, while it is much more difficult to estimate the effect of collisions with offshore wind turbines. To date there have been no observed collisions of marine mammals or diving seabirds with tidal turbines. Wave energy devices also have moving parts such as heave plates, flaps, and other large heavy components that could potentially cause harm, although the likelihood is thought to be extremely small. Collisions resulting in injury and death of individual animals with moving parts of devices become particularly important if the loss of those individuals affect the stability and sustainability of the population in the area.

For more information relevant to marine energy, check out the Collision Risk Short Science Summary produced by OES-Environmental.

For more information relevant to offshore wind energy, check out the Bat and Bird Interactions with Offshore Wind Energy research brief produced by SEER.

Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Tethys is a knowledge hub that contains documents on the environmental effects of wind and marine energy. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Knowledge Base associated with Collision.

Total: 1656

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
High-resolution multi-sensor technology reveals low collision risk to seabirds in offshore wind farms Skov, H., Tjørnløv, R., Armitage, D. Journal Article Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds, Seabirds
System Dynamics And Performance Prediction Of A Wind-Powered Acoustic Bird Deterrent System Ufuouma, O., Ekenna, E., Maxwell, O. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Recommendations and Roadmap (WP4): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Butler, A., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Hague, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Large-scale mapping of nocturnal bird migration to accelerate a nature-inclusive energy transition Hoekstra, B., Kranstauber, B., Bradaric, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Birds
Uncertainty and approaches to evaluating uncertainty (WP1): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Furness, R.W., Searle, K., Jones, E. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Summary report of sensitivity analysis (WP2): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Butler, A., Matthiopoulos, J., Lorenzo-Arribas, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Impacts on birds from offshore wind farms in Australia: An ecological risk assessment Reid, K., Baker, G.B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Review of methods used to calculate scale of artificial nesting structures proposed as a compensation measure for Kittiwake mortality at offshore wind farms Rhoades, J., Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
All tide up: addressing the regulatory and environmental barriers affecting tidal energy development in British Columbia Kelsey, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, EMF, Noise Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
ProcBe Annual Report No.2: Year 2 The Crown Estate Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Testing a bat fatality detection system at wind turbines Weaver, S., Ritter, J., Commiskey, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Impacts of offshore wind farms on migratory bats in British waters Hooker, J., Lintott, P., Boughey, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Lighting Bats
The collision risk of migrating birds at wind farms: Final report VolZug project Liedtke, J., Bruneaux, M., Girndt, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Lighting Birds
New frontiers in wind-wildlife monitoring systems Dempsey, L., Clerc, J., Hein, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement Bats, Birds
Impacts on birds and bats from onshore wind farms in Australia Reid, K., Baker, G.B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Overview of the potential ecological impacts of three offshore locations for wind farms in Aotearoa New Zealand McKinlay, B., van Helden, A., Taylor, G. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Biodiversity biases in research and practice: Lessons from the Irish onshore wind sector King, E., Gorman, C., Stout, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions
Wind Energy Interactions with Wildlife Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Based on the State of the Science Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Noise Bats, Birds
Harnessing AI for Bat Videography Research and Conservation Corcoran, A. Presentation Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
3rd Edition: Summary of Bird Fatality Monitoring Data Contained in AWWIC Schauber, E., Butryn, R., Felton, S. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Population-level impacts of wind energy for two fruit bat species in South Africa Aronson, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Terrestrial Mammals
A Multi-Sensor Approach for Measuring Bird and Bat Collisions with Offshore Wind Turbines (Final Technical Report) Western Ecosystems Technology Inc (WEST), TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) Wind Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Misplaced fears? What the evidence reveals of the ecological effects of tidal power generation Ascher, S., Gray, I., Collins, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Wind Farms’ Impacts on Raptors: Predictors, Study Methods, and Mitigation Measures Alloing, A., Morandini, V., Ferrer, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Birds
Evaluating aerial LiDAR and other approaches to avian flight height measurement– ReSCUE Project Validation Study Report Rhoades, J., Feather, A., Harwood, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Accelerating technology development to monitor and minimize effects from land-based wind energy on birds and bats Gottlieb, I., Hein, C., Field, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Bird Survival in Wind Farms by Monte-Carlo Simulation Modelling Based on Wide-Ranging Flight Tracking Data of Multiple Birds During Different Seasons Yordanov, N., Nabielek, H., Bedev, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Raptors
Bird collision risk at the interface of solar and wind farms – a cumulative effect? Oglęcki, P., Dąbrowski, P., Gnatowski, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement Birds
Migratory Strategy is a Key Factor Driving Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities in At-Risk North American Bats Campbell, C., Nelson, D., Nagel, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
CWW 2025 Book of Abstract Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife Impact Conference Paper Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Life Cycle Assessment, Marine Spatial Planning, Recreation & Tourism, Stakeholder Engagement
Environmental effects of marine renewable energy off-grid and micro-grid applications: a use case approach to assess existing knowledge and remaining uncertainties Hemery, L., Weicht, L., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Minimizing environmental risks to progress the marine renewable energy industry Garavelli, L., Rose, D., Freeman, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise
Wind Farms and Power Lines: A Dual Threat to Seabirds in Brazil Revorêdo, R., Santana, V., Tavares-Damasceno, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Environmental Risks and Impacts of Offshore Energy: A Literature Review Pontinha, D., Bispo, L., Gervásio, H. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Unravelling the relationship between digitalisation and sustainable energy transitions using socio-technical-ecological scripts Schmidt-Scheele, R., Mattes, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Synthesis of evidence (D01) Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Skeate, E.R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Systematic Review of Crop Pests in the Diets of Four Bat Species Found as Wind Turbine Fatalities Hale, A., Foo, C., Lloyd, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Bats
Revised Marine Bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Wind Energy Development Kelsey, E., Felis, J., Pereksta, D. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Birds
An ecological risk assessment for the impacts of offshore wind farms on sharks and rays in Australia Werry, J., Meager, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Sea Turtles and Marine Energy: Linking Shell Mechanics to Impact Lezcano, I., Wyneken, J., Porter, M. Presentation Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal Collision Reptiles, Sea Turtles

Displaying 41 - 80 of 1656 results