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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
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
Best Management Practices for Bats in New Mexico Balistreri, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats
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
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
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
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
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
Avian and Bat Fatality Rates at Old-Generation and Repowered Wind Turbines in California Smallwood, K., Karas, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds, Bats
Bird species of concern at wind farms in New Zealand Powlesland, R. Book Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Birds
A Large-Scale Mitigation Experiment to Reduce Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities Baerwald, E., Edworthy, J., Holder, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Influence of Behavior on Bird Mortality in Wind Energy Developments Smallwood, K., Rugge, L., Morrison, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds, Passerines, Raptors, Waterfowl
Map-Based Repowering of the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Based on Burrowing Owl Burrows, Raptor Flights, and Collisions with Wind Turbines Smallwood, K., Neher, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Deadly Flights Curry, A. Magazine Article Wind Energy Collision Bats
The Aversive Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Foraging Bats—A Possible Means of Discouraging Bats from Approaching Wind Turbines Nicholls, B., Racey, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, EMF Bats
Interim Report: Post-Construction Bat and Bird Fatality Study Blue Sky Green Field Wind Resource Area Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Gruver, J., Bay, K., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Avian Sensitivity to Mortality: Prioritising Migratory Bird Species for Assessment at Proposed Wind Farms Desholm, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds
Proceedings of the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting VII Schwartz, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Developing Guidance on Ornithological Cumulative Impact Assessment for Offshore Wind Farm Developers King, S., Maclean, I., Norman, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Patterns of Bat Fatality at the Casselman Wind Project in South-Central Pennsylvania: 2008 Annual Report Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Huso, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Contextualizing Avian Mortality: A Preliminary Appraisal of Bird and Bat Fatalities from Wind, Fossil-Fuel, and Nuclear Electricity Sovacool, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Bats, Birds
Bats and Onshore Wind Farms: Site-by-Site Assessment and Post-Construction Monitoring Protocols Catherine, C., Spray, S. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Birds, Bats and Coastal Wind Farm Development in Maine: A Literature Review Goodale, W., Divoll, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Assessment of Wind‐Farm and Other Bird Casualties from Carcasses Found on a Northumbrian Beach Over an 11‐Year Period Newton, I., Little, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Seabirds, Birds
Annual Report for the Maple Ridge Wind Power Project Postconstruction Bird and Bat Fatality Study - 2007 Jain, A., Kerlinger, P., Curry, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Raptors, Shorebirds, Waterfowl
On-Shore Bird and Bat Pre- and Post-Construction Monitoring Protocol for Commercial Wind Energy Facilities in Ohio: An Addendum to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Voluntary Cooperative Agreement Ohio Department of Natural Resources Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Annual Report for the Noble Bliss Windpark, LLC Postconstruction Bird and Bat Fatality Study 2008 Jain, A., Kerlinger, P., Curry, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Effectiveness of Changing Wind Turbine Cut-in Speed to Reduce Bat Fatalities at Wind Facilities 2009 Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Huso, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats

Displaying 1441 - 1480 of 1657 results