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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: 1731

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
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
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
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
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
Onshore wind power development in China: Challenges behind a successful story Han, J., Mol, A., Lu, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Noise Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
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
Assessment of methods used to investigate the impact of offshore wind farms on seabirds Brookes, K. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
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
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
POSITIVE PLANNING FOR ONSHORE WIND Bowyer, C., Baldock, D., Tucker, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement
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
Mapped and written guidance in relation to birds and onshore wind energy development in England Bright, J., Langston, R., Anthony, S. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Seabirds
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

Displaying 1521 - 1560 of 1731 results