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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: 1637

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Habitat use, disturbance and collision risk for Bewick’s Swans Cygnus columbianus bewickii wintering near a wind farm in the Netherlands Fijn, R., Krijgsveld, K., Tijsen, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Waterfowl
Effects of Acoustic Deterrents on Foraging Bats Johnson, J., Ford, W., Rodrigue, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Development of a Comprehensive Conservation Strategy for the North Shore Region of Minnesota in the Context of Future Wind Power Development Peterson, A., Niemi, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Passerines, Raptors
Avian and Bat Protection Plan: AWA Goodhue Wind Project Westwood Professional Services Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
A new method to determine bird and bat fatality at wind energy turbines from carcass searches Korner-Nievergelt, F., Korner-Nievergelt, P., Behr, O. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Bird and Bird Habitats: Guidelines for Wind Power Projects Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Ultrasonic Acoustic Deterrent in Reducing Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities - Final Report Arnett, E., Hein, C., Schirmacher, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
Enhancing Carcass Removal Trials at Three Wind Energy Facilities in Portugal Bernardino, J., Bispo, R., Torres, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Bats
Migratory Bird Research for the Proposed County Line Wind Energy Site: Fall 2011 Field Season Gehring, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Raptors
Wind power's impacts on birds and bats - Synthesis report; Vindkraftens paaverkan paa faaglar och fladdermoess - Syntesrapport Rydell, J., Hendenstroem, A., Green, M. Report Wind Energy Collision Bats
Wind Energy and Wildlife Research at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center Phillips, S. Summary Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Raptors
Effects of wind farms and food scarcity on a large scavenging bird species following an epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy Martinez-Abrain, A., Tavecchia, G., Regan, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Ecosystem Processes, Birds
Using echolocation monitoring to model bat occupancy and inform mitigations at wind energy facilities Weller, T., Baldwin, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Bats
Evaluation of Fish Injury and Mortality Associated with Hydrokinetic Turbines Amaral, S., Perkins, N., Giza, D. Report Riverine, Marine Energy Collision Fish
Bat Fatality Monitoring Report for the Pigeon Creek Wind Turbine Dewitt, S. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Migration routes of Whooper Swans and geese in relation to wind farm footprints Griffin, L., Rees, E., Hughes, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Waterfowl
Investigating the Causes of Death for Wind Turbine-Associated Bat Fatalities Grodsky, S., Behr, M., Gendler, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Fish Passage Through Turbines: Application of Conventional Hydropower Data to Hydrokinetic Technologies Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Report Marine Energy, Riverine Collision Fish
A Review of Methods to Monitor Collisions or Micro-Avoidance of Birds with Offshore Wind Turbines - Part 1: Review Strategic Ornithological Support Services Project Collier, M., Dirksen, S., Krijgsveld, K. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds
Developing Capabilities for Tidal Hydrokinetic Blade Strike Monitoring Polagye, B., Kramer, S., Parker-Stetter, S. Presentation Marine Energy, Tidal Collision
Dogs as a Tool to Improve Bird-Strike Mortality Estimates at Wind Farms Paula, J., Leal, M., Silva, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision Birds
Assessing Bird and Bat Mortality at the Forward Energy Center Grodsky, S., Drake, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Using Stakeholder Input to Develop a Comparative Risk Assessment for Wildlife from the Life Cycles of Six Electrical Generation Fuels Zillioux, E., Newman, J., Lampman, G. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Stakeholder Engagement, Life Cycle Assessment, Human Dimensions, Birds, Bats
Joint Fact Finding and Stakeholder Consensus Building at the Altamont Wind Resource Area in California Bartlett, G. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Birds
The effects of wind turbines on white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus Albicilla) in Hokkaido, Japan Shiraki, S., Kitano, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Patterns of activity and fatality of migratory bats at a wind energy facility in Alberta, Canada Baerwald, E., Barclay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Bats
Raptor mortality in wind farms of southern Spain: mitigation measures on a major migration bottleneck area Gallego, A., Lucas, M., Casado, E. Report Wind Energy Collision Birds, Raptors
ID Stat: Innovative Technology for Assessing Wildlife Collisions with Wind Turbines Delprat, B., Alcuri, G. Report Wind Energy Collision Bats, Birds
The wind energy (r)evolution: A short review of a long history Kaldellis, J., Zafirakis, D. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision
Bats and Bat Habitats: Guidelines for Wind Power Projects Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Report Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats
Assessing Avian-Wind Turbine Collision Risk: An Approach Angle Dependent Model Holmstrom, L., Hamer, T., Colclazier, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Effects of Weather on Avian Migration at Proposed Ridgeline Wind Energy Sites Thomas, P., Labrosse, A., Pomeroy, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision Raptors, Birds
Wind turbines as landscape impediments to the migratory connectivity of bats Cryan, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Bats
Argyll Array Offshore Wind Farm: Habitat Regulations Assessment - Screening for Likely Significant Effects Dewar, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds
Understanding Benthic Productivity on Artificial Structures: Maximising the Benefit of Marine Renewable Energy Devices Porter, J., Rouse, S., Wilding, T. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Collision, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Modelling Seabird Collision Risk with Off-Shore Wind Farms Mateos, M., Arroyo, G., Rosario, J. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Linking Turbine Collision Risks with Population Models to Assess Cumulative Impacts of Multiple Wind Farms on Threatened Birds Smales, I., Muir, S., Meredith, C. Presentation Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Measuring the interaction between marine features of Special Protection Areas with offshore wind farm development zones through telemetry: first breeding season report Thaxter, C., Ross-Smith, V., Clark, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Altering Turbine Speed Reduces Bat Mortality at Wind-Energy Facilities Arnett, E., Huso, M., Schirmacher, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Bats
Estimation of the Risks of Collision or Strike to Freshwater Aquatic Organisms Resulting from Operation of Instream Hydrokinetic Turbines Schweizer, P., Cada, G., Bevelhimer, M. Report Riverine, Marine Energy Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Fish

Displaying 1321 - 1360 of 1637 results