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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
Impact of Wind Power Plants on Black Grouse, Lyrurus tetrix in Alpine Regions Zeiler, H., Grunschachner-Berger, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Chiropteran Risk Assessment: Proposed Pleasant Ridge Wind Energy Generation Facility, Livingston County, Illinois BHE Environmental Inc Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) Lorraine, R., Tremlett, C. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Wind Turbines and Bat Mortality: Interactions of Bat Echolocation Pulses with Moving Turbine Rotor Blades Long, C., Flint, J., Lepper, P. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Bats
Minimal effects of wind turbines on the distribution of wintering farmland birds Devereux, C., Denny, M., Whittingham, M. Journal Article Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Avian and Bat Protection Plan: Iberdrola Renewables Iberdrola Renewables Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Collision Fatality of Raptors in Wind Farms does not Depend on Raptor Abundance de Lucas, M., Janss, G., Whitfield, D. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Birds
Map of Bird Sensitivities to Wind Farms in Scotland: A Tool to Aid Planning and Conservation Bright, J., Langston, R., Bullman, R. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Birds
How Ecofriendly are Wind Farms? Cohn, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Raptors, Birds, Bats
Collision Effects of Wind-power Generators and Other Obstacles on Birds Drewitt, A., Langston, R. Journal Article Wind Energy Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Birds
Testing the Effectiveness of an Experimental Acoustic Bat Deterrent at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm Horn, J., Arnett, E., Jensen, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
Avian Issues for Offshore Wind Development Allison, T., Jedrey, E., Perkins, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Wind Power Company Compliance with Mitigation Plans in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Smallwood, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Mating Behavior as a Possible Cause of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines Cryan, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Bats
Investigations of the Bird Collision Risk and the Responses of Harbour Porpoises in the Offshore Wind Farms Horns Rev, North Sea, and Nysted, Baltic Sea, in Denmark - Part II: Harbour porpoises Diederichs, A., Hennig, V., Nehls, G. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Noise Birds, Marine Mammals
Sex-Based Mortality of Common Tern in Farm Collisions Stienen, E., Courtens, W., Everaert, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Seabirds, Birds
Behavioral Responses of Bats to Operating Wind Turbines Horn, J., Arnett, E., Kunz, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
Patterns of Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities in North America Arnett, E., Brown, W., Erickson, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Investigations of the Bird Collision Risk and the Responses of Harbour Porpoises in the Offshore Wind Farms Horns Rev, North Sea, and Nysted, Baltic Sea, in Denmark - Part I: Birds Blew, J., Hoffmann, M., Nehls, G. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California Smallwood, K., Thelander, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds
Probability of Impact Workshop National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Assessing Impacts of Wind-Energy Development on Nocturnally Active Birds and Bats: A Guidance Document Kunz, T., Arnett, E., Cooper, B. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Bats, Birds
Evaluation of Blade-Strike Models for Estimating the Biological Performance of Kaplan Turbines Deng, Z., Carlson, T., Ploskey, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Riverine Collision Fish, Pelagic Fish
Estimating Wind Turbine Caused Bird Mortality Smallwood, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Breeding and Overland Flight of Red- Throated Divers (Gavia stellata) at Smøla, Norway, in relation to the Smøla wind farm Halley, D., Hopshaug, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Waterfowl
A Radar and Visual Study of Nocturnal Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Bear Review Windpark, California, Spring 2007 Sanzenbacher, P., Mabee, T., Cooper, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Migration of Bats Past a Remote Island Offers Clues toward the Problem of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines Cryan, P., Brown, A. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Bats
Status Report on Met Tower Incidents Collinsville Montezuma Hills Wind Resource Area Solano County, California Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Hasch, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Prairie Winds: Migrating Bats & Wind Energy in Canada Baerwald, E. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Ecological Effects of Wind-Energy Development National Resource Council Book Chapter Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision
Ecological Impacts of Wind Energy Development on Bats: Questions, Research Needs, and Hypotheses Kunz, T., Arnett, E., Erickson, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Bats
Burrowing Owl Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Smallwood, K., Thelander, C., Morrison, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds
Bats and Offshore Wind Turbines Studied in Southern Scandinavia Ahlén, I., Bach, L., Baagøe, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
Results of Bat and Bird Mortality Monitoring at the Expanded Buffalo Mountain Windfarm, 2005 Fiedler, J., Henry, T., Tankersley, R. Jr. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Passerines, Birds, Bats
Developing Field and Analytical Methods to Assess Avian Collision Risk at Wind Farms Band, W., Madders, M., Whitfield, D. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Effects of Wind Turbines on Flight Behaviour of Wintering Common Eiders: Implications for Habitat Use and Collision Risk Larsen, J., Guillemette, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds, Seabirds
Biglow Canyon Wind Farm: Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Plan Portland General Electric Company, Oregon Department of Energy Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Nocturnal Behavior of Raptors at Wind Energy Facilities Castle, J. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Guide to Preparing an EA Registration Document for Wind Power Projects in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (Nova Scotia Environment) Guidance Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Interim Summary on the Effectiveness of the Winter Period Turbine Shutdown in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Erickson, W., Strickland, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors

Displaying 1481 - 1520 of 1657 results