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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
Collision Risk in White-Tailed Eagles Modelling Kernel-Based Collision Risk Using Satellite Telemetry Data in Smøla Wind-Power Plant May, R., Nygård, T., Dahl, E. Report Wind Energy Avoidance, Collision Birds, Raptors
Avian, Bat and Habitat Cumulative Impacts Associated with Wind Energy Development in the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Of Eastern Washington and Oregon 2011 Johnson, G., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Proceedings of the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting VIII PNWWRM VIII Conference Paper Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Flight Height Distribution and Collision Risk of the Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus Marmoratus: Methodology and Preliminary Results Stumpf, J., Denis, N., Hamer, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Seabirds
Avian Radar Baseline Study: Final Survey Report for the Proposed Reedsport Ocean Power Technologies Wave Park Geo-Marine Inc Report Marine Energy, Wave Attraction, Collision Birds, Seabirds
Klondike IIIa (Phase 2) Wind Power Project Wildlife Monitoring Study August 2008–August 2010 Gritski, B., Downes, S., Kronner, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Assessment of Risk to Marine Mammals from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 1 - Desktop Review of Marine Mammals and Risks from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters Wilson, B., Gordon, J. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement Marine Mammals
Understanding Bird Collisions With Man-made Objects: A Sensory Ecology Approach Martin, G. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change, Collision Birds
An Assessment of the Bat Fauna at the Hepburn Community Wind Farm, Leonards Hill, Victoria Richards, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Bats
Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Environmental Assessment Project Adonizio, M., Smith, R. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Collision Fish
Impact assessment of wind farms on birds of prey in Thrace. Annual Report August 2009 - August 2010 Doutau, B., Kafkaletou-Diez, D., Carcamo, B. Report Wind Energy Collision Birds
Assessment of Risk to Diving Birds from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 2 - Field Methodologies and Site Assessments Robinson, C., Cook, G. Report Wave, Tidal, Marine Energy Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Seabirds, Birds
Assessment of Risk to Diving Birds from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 1 - Desktop Review of Birds in Welsh Waters and Preliminary Risk Assessment Loughrey, J., Austin, M., Sweeney, J. Report Wave, Tidal, Marine Energy Collision Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Seabirds, Birds
Visual Tracking From a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat to Determine Foraging Movements of Breeding Terns Perrow, M., Gilroy, J., Skeate, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Seabirds, Birds
Post-Construction Bird and Bat Mortality Study: Cedar Ridge Wind Farm, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin BHE Environmental Inc Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Year 1 Post-construction Avian and Bat Monitoring Report: Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Phase II Sherman County, Oregon Enk, T., Bay, K., Sonnenberg, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Appropriate Assessment Screening for AMETS, Co. Mayo Scally, L. Research Study Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Collision Birds
Collision risk of White-fronted Geese with wind turbines Sugimoto, H., Matsuda, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors, Waterfowl
Investigation on Design for a 500 W Wind Turbine Composite Blade Considering Impact Damage Kong, C., Choi, S., Park, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Post construction monitoring of wind farms: First records of direct impact on bats in Italy Ferri, V., Locasciulli, O., Soccini, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Bat Mortality and Activity at a Northern Iowa Wind Resource Area Jain, A., Koford, R., Hancock, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Bats
Assessment of Collision Risk for Seals and Tidal Stream Turbines Davies, I., Thompson, F. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Collision Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Response of Raptors to a Windfarm Garvin, J., Jennelle, C., Drake, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Birds
Marine Hydrokinetic Turbine Technology and the Environment: Device-Biota Interactions Crevison, S., Li, Y., Thresher, R. Conference Paper Marine Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision
Night Migrant Fatalities And Obstruction Lighting At Wind Turbines In North America Kerlinger, P., Gehring, J., Erickson, W. Journal Article Wind Energy Lighting, Collision Birds
Mortality of Bats at Wind Turbines Links to Nocturnal Insect Migration? Rydell, J., Bach, L., Dubourg-Savage, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Collision Risk in White-Tailed Eagles: Modelling Collision Risk Using Vantage Point Observations in Smøla Wind-Power Plant May, R., Hoel, P., Langston, R. Report Wind Energy Avoidance, Collision Birds, Raptors
Pre-Wind Energy Development Assessment of the Avian Community in the Central Texas Panhandle Wulf, S. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds
Potential impact of wind farms on territories of large eagles in southeastern Spain Martinez, J., Calvo, J., Zuberogoita, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Patterns of Bird and Bat Fatality at the Locust Ridge II Wind Farm, Pennsylvania Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Hein, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Minimizing Collision Risk Between Migrating Raptors and Marine Wind Farms: Development of a Spatial Planning Tool Baisner, A., Andersen, J., Findsen, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Bird Collisions with Power Lines: Failing to See the Way Ahead? Martin, G., Shaw, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance Birds
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Migration in Relation to Offshore Wind Farms Griffin, L., Rees, E., Hughes, B. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Wind Turbines and Bat Mortality: Rotor Detectability Profiles Long, C., Flint, J., Baker, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Impacts of Offshore Renewable Energy Devices on Population Connectivity Adams, T., Miller, R., Aleynik, D. Research Study Marine Energy Habitat Change, Collision Invertebrates
Temporal Patterns in Capture Rate and Sex Ratio of Forest Bats in Arkansas Perry, R., Carter, S., Thill, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Radar Monitoring of Bird and Bat Movement Patterns on Block Island and its Coastal Waters Mizrahi, D., Fogg, R., Magarian, T. Report Collision Birds, Bats
Technical Manual for Evaluating Wildlife Impacts of Wind Turbines Requiring Coastal Permits NJ Department of Environmental Protection Report Wind Energy Habitat Change, Collision
FARMLAND BIRDS ACROSS THE WORLD van der Weijden, W., Terwan, P., Guldemond, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Klondike III (Phase 1) Wind Power Project Wildlife Monitoring Study October 2007–October 2009 Gritski, B., Downes, S., Kronner, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds

Displaying 1361 - 1400 of 1637 results