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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
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
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
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
Avian, bat and habitat cumulative impacts associated with wind energy development in the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion of Eastern Washington and Oregon Johnson, G., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
The Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment (FAME) de Liedekerke, V., Owen, E., Crawford, R. Research Study Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Collision Seabirds, Birds
A study of White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla movements and mortality at a wind farm in Norway Nygård, T., Bevanger, K., Dahl, E. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Raptors
A review of the potential use of sonar to observe the underwater behaviour of diving birds near tidal energy devices RPS group Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision Birds, Seabirds
Marine Renewable Energy and the Environment (MaREE) Adams, T., Bainbridge, J., Benjamins, S. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Best Management Practices for Bats in New Mexico Balistreri, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats
Post‐Construction Bat and Bird Fatality Study at the Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin: July 21, 2008 – October 31, 2008 and March 15, 2009 – June 4, 2009 Gruver, J., Sonnenburg, M., Bay, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Bats
Bats on the move Popa-Lisseanu, A., Voigt, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Causes of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines: Hypotheses and Predictions Cryan, P., Barclay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Bats
Pre- and Post-Construction Studies of Conflicts Between Birds and Wind Turbines in Coastal Norway (Bird Wind): Progress Report 2009 Bevanger, K., Berntsen, F., Clausen, S. Report Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Birds
What is the Impact of Wind Farms on Birds? A Case Study in Southern Spain Farfan, M., Vargas, J., Duarte, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision Birds
Geographic Variation in Activity and Fatality of Migratory Bats at Wind Energy Facilities Baerwald, E., Barclay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
An Estimation Of Survival And Injury Of Fish Passed Through The Hydro Green Energy Hydrokinetic System, And A Characterization Of Fish Entrainment Potential At The Mississippi Lock And Dam No. 2 Hydroelectric Projects Normandeau Associates Inc Report Marine Energy, Riverine Collision Fish
Sediment Transport Study Phase 1 Oregon State University Report Collision
Klondike IIIa (Phase 2) Wind Power Project Wildlife Monitoring Year One Summary August 2008–August 2009 Gritski, B., Downes, S., Kronner, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Ripley Wind Power Project Post-Construction Monitoring Report Jacques Whitford Stantec Limited Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Map-Based Repowering and Reorganization of a Wind Resource Area to Minimize Burrowing Owl and Other Bird Fatalities Smallwood, K., Neher, L., Bell, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Collision Risk of Birds with Modern Large Wind Turbines Krijgsveld, K., Akershoek, K., Schenk, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance Birds
Towers, Turbines, Power Lines, and Buildings-Steps Being Taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Avoid or Minimize Take of Migratory Birds at these Structures Manville, A. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
2008/2009 Annual Report for the Buena Vista Avian and Bat Monitoring Project Insignia Environmental Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds

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