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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: 1657

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Assessment of Collision Risk for Seals and Tidal Stream Turbines Davies, I., Thompson, F. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Collision Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Appropriate Assessment Screening for AMETS, Co. Mayo Scally, L. Research Study Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Collision Birds
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
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
Wind Turbines and Bat Mortality: Rotor Detectability Profiles Long, C., Flint, J., Baker, K. 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
Forecasting the consequences of climate-driven shifts in human behavior on cetaceans Alter, S., Simmonds, M., Brandon, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Bayesian Integration for Marine Spatial Planning and Renewable Energy Siting Halsey, K., Goldfinger, C. Research Study Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Marine Megavertebrates and Fishery Resources in the Nantucket Sound – Muskeget Channel Area: Assessing Impacts of Marine Renewable Energy Installations on Marine Megavertebrates - Recommendations for the Proposed Muskeget Channel Tidal Energy Project Leeney, R., Nichols, O., Sette, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Post-Construction Avian Monitoring Study for the Shiloh II Wind Power Project Solano County, California Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
The emergence of a new marine renewable energy industry – what are the implications for fisheries? Bell, M., Side, J., Kerr, S. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries
Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Collision Risk Report Model George, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds
Bat Mortality at Wind Turbines in Northwestern Europe Rydell, J., Bach, L., Dubourg-Savage, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Collision Risk of Fish with Wave and Tidal Devices ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer) Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Avoidance, Collision Fish
Novel Scavenger Removal Trials Increase Wind Turbine - Caused Avian Fatality Estimates Smallwood, K., Bell, D., Snyder, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Wind Energy: Progress and Potential Kaygusuz, K. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Spatial Trade-Offs between Wind Power Production and Bird Collision Avoidance in Agricultural Landscape Eichhorn, M., Drechsler, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Birds, Raptors
Search Areas for Monitoring Bird and Bat Carcasses at Wind Farms using a Monte-Carlo Model Hull, C., Muir, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Effectiveness of Changing Wind Turbine Cut-in Speed to Reduce Bat Fatalities at Wind Facilities 2010 Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Huso, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Spatial Pattern of Summer Bat Mortality from Collisions with Wind Turbines in Mixed-Grass Prairie Piorkowski, M., O'Connell, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Bats
Determination of Raptor Migratory Pathways over a Large Landscape Seeland, H. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Raptors, Birds
Bats are not birds and other problems with Sovacool's (2009) analysis of animal fatalities due to electricity generation Willis, C., Barclay, R., Boyles, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Attraction Birds, Bats
Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm - Scoping Report Szylak, S. Report Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Navigation
Avian post-construction studies and EIA for planned ex-tension of the Hitra wind-power plant Bevanger, K., Dahl, E., Gjershaug, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
The return of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) to northern Germany: Modelling the past to predict the future Kruger, O., Grunkorn, T., Struwe-Juhl, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds
Assessing the Potential Impact of Wind Turbines on the Endangered Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia at San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos Cruz-Delgado, F., Wiedenfeld, D., Gonzalez, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds

Displaying 1401 - 1440 of 1657 results