Collision

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: 1586

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Nine Canyon Wind Power Project Avian and Bat Monitoring Report Erickson, W., Kronner, K., Gritski, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
A Vehicle-Mounted Radar for Dual-Purpose Monitoring of Birds Harmata, A., Leighty, G., O'Neil, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Minimization of Motion Smear: Reducing Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: Period of Performance: July 12, 1999 - August 31, 2002 Hodos, W. Report Wind Energy Collision Raptors, Birds
Life Histories of Bats: Life in the Slow Lane Barclay, R., Harder, L. Book Chapter Wind Energy Collision Bats
Birds and Offshore Wind Farms: A Hot Topic in Marine Ecology Exo, K., Hüppop, O., Garthe, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Effects of offshore wind farms on birds: "Cuisinarts of the sky" or just tilting at windmills? Tingley, M. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Seabirds, Passerines, Birds
Collision Potential of Eiders and Other Birds Near a Proposed Windfarm at St. Lawrence Island, October-November 2002 Day, R., Rose, J., Ritchie, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Seabirds, Raptors, Birds
Offshore Wind Energy in Europe— A Review of the State-of-the-Art Henderson, A., Morgan, C., Smith, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Noise Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Avian and Bat Mortality Associated with the Initial Phase of the Foote Creek Rim Windpower Project, Carbon County, Wyoming November 1998-June 2002 Young, D. Jr., Erickson, W., Good, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Passerines, Raptors, Shorebirds, Waterfowl
Mortality of Bats at a Large-Scale Wind Power Development at Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota Johnson, G., Erickson, W., Strickland, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Comparison of Avian Responses to UV-Light-Reflective Paint on Wind Turbines Young, D., Erickson, W., Strickland, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Lighting, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Birds
Thermal Animal Detection System (TADS): Development of a Method for Estimating Collision Frequency of Migrating Birds at Offshore Wind Turbines Desholm, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Waterfowl, Seabirds, Passerines, Birds
National Wind Technology Center Site Environmental Assessment: Bird and Bat Use and Fatalities - Final Report Schmidt, E., Piaggo, A., Bock, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
A Roadmap for PIER Research on Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines in California Sterner, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Raptors
Assessment of Bat Community Structure and Roosting Habitat Preferences for the Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Near Foote Creek Rim, Wyoming Gruver, J. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments Erickson, W., Johnson, G., Young, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Evaluation of Fish-Injury Mechanisms During Exposure to a High-Velocity Jet Guensch, G., Mueller, R., Dauble, D. Report Marine Energy Collision Fish
Avian/Wind Turbine Interactions: A Short Summary of Research Results and Remaining Questions National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Collision Mortality of Local and Migrant Birds at a Large-Scale Wind-Power Development on Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota Johnson, G., Erickson, W., Strickland, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Raptors, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl
Golden Eagles in a Perilous Landscape: Predicting the Effects of Mitigation for Wind Turbine Blade Strike Mortality Hunt, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Birds, Raptors
An Assessment of the Impacts of Green Mountain Power Corporation's Wind Power Facility on Breeding and Migrating Birds in Searsburg, Vermont: July 1996-July 1998 Kerlinger, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Passerines, Birds
Novar Windfarm Ltd Ornithological Monitoring Studies: Breeding Bird and Birdstrike Monitoring 2001 Results & 5-Year Review Bioscan Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Raptors
Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: A Summary of Existing Studies and Comparisons to Other Sources of Avian Collision Mortality in the United States Erickson, W., Johnson, G., Strickland, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Birds, Passerines, Raptors
Status of Avian Research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Sinclair, K. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Proceedings of the National Avian - Wind Power Planning Meeting IV NWCC Avian Subcommittee Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Assessment of the Effects of Offshore Wind in Birds Percival, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Proceedings of the National Avian - Wind Power Planning Meeting III LGL Ltd Conference Paper Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Avian Risk Behavior and Fatalities at the Altamont Wind Resource Area: March 1998 to February 1999 Thelander, C., Rugge, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds
The Effect of Local Weather Conditions on Bird-Aircraft Collisions at British Airports Manktelow, S. Conference Paper Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Birds
Ponnequin Wind Energy Project: Reference Site Avian Study Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Ryder, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Passerines, Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Windfarms and Birds: Calculating a Theoretical Collision Risk Assuming No Avoiding Action Band, W. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Birds
Effects on Birds of an Offshore Wind Park at Horns Rev: Environmental Impact Assessment Noer, H., Christensen, T., Clausager, I. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Avian Monitoring and Risk Assessment at Tehachapi Pass and San Gorgonio Pass Wind Resource Areas, California: Phase 1 Preliminary Results Anderson, R., Strickland, D., Tom, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Birds, Raptors
Bird Mortality Associated with Wind Turbines at the Buffalo Ridge Wind Resource Area, Minnesota Osborn, R., Higgins, K., Usgaard, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Baseline Avian Use and Behavior at the CARES Wind Plant Site, Klickitat County, Washington: Final Report Erickson, W., Johnson, G., Strickland, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
A Population Study of Golden Eagles in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area: Population Trend Analysis 1994-1997 Hunt, W., Jackman, R., Hunt, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds
Downstream Migration of Fish Through Dams of Hydroelectric Power Plants Pavlov, D., Lupandin, A., Kostin, V. Book Riverine, Marine Energy Collision Fish
Avian Risk and Fatality Protocol Morrison, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Avian Use of Norris Hill Wind Resource Area, Montana Harmata, A., Podruzny, K., Zelenak, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
A Population Study of Golden Eagles in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area: Second-Year Progress Report Predatory Bird Research Group Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Raptors
Displaying 1521 - 1560 of 1586 results