Wind Energy Monitoring and Mitigation Technologies Tool

SEDflume has been applied at over 100 sites worldwide to characterize sediment erodibility. McNeil et. al (1996) and Roberts et. al (1998) laid the groundwork for further development and applications by Integral Consulting staff. Use of SEDflume and its methods have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate sediment mobility and inform engineering design. SEDflume has not been applied for an offshore wind development yet.

Starbuck et al. (2022) used SonoBat to monitor bat activity at 92 sites in northern Arizona (US) in summer and fall of 2016 and 2017 and analyze how land cover and topography effects bat activity.

Grider et al. (2016) used SonoBat to monitor nightly bat activity at 6 locations in North Carolina (US) from September 2012 to August 2014 using data collected by Song Meter.

Lagerveld et al. (2020) evaluated various technologies developed to detect bird and bat collisions with wind turbines.

Lagerveld et al. (2017) conducted a feasibility study evaluating the use of thermal cameras in a stereoscopic setup to record bat flight paths at an offshore wind turbine. The study was conducted between August and September 2016 at an offshore wind operation in Wieringermeer, the Netherlands.

Matzner et al. (2022) describe the integration of the ThermalTracker-3D system with a wind-profiling buoy and deployment offshore in California. The system was deployed for 14 weeks between May and August 2021, collecting seabird activity data, including nocturnal activity.

Matzner et al. (2020) present a method for tracking the flight trajectories of birds and bats and creating composite images of flight trajectories with data from thermal cameras. Drones were used to assess accuracy of detections near a wind farm in Boulder, Colorado (US) during 2020.

Jaffe et al. (2022) compared methods of conducting population surveys by using traditional techniques (visual counting) and novel ones (passive acoustic detection, drone-acquired thermal imagery). ThruTracker software was used to partially automate the visual counting method.

Corcoran et al. (2021) discussed ThruTracker algorithms, development, and testing. Two case studies using ThruTracker software are presented. One study involved counting bats in North Carolina (US) in August of 2020 with the software using thermal imaging as a video feed. The other case study evaluated the spatial accuracy obtained from using a wind turbine as a calibration object.

EPRI (2021) modeled wind variables, curtailment thresholds, and bat activity patterns to analyze the possible influences of various curtailment strategies on wind energy production at six wind energy facilities in Alberta, Canada.

Hayes et al. (2019) compared the reduction in bat fatalities associated with the implementation of the TIMR system at a wind energy facility in Wisconsin (US) in 2015 to the reduction measured using blanket curtailment strategies at other sites in North America and Europe.

Romano et al. (2019) conducted a randomized block experiment at a wind farm in Illinois (US) during the autumn bat migration between 2014 and 2016 to evaluate the efficacy of the GE Ultrasonic bat deterrence system in preventing bat fatalities due to turbine collisions.

Kinzie et al. (2018) aimed to increase the efficacy of the GE 4-nozzle continuous ultrasonic system by 50%. The redesigned deterrent system includes a 6 nozzle system with a pulsing signal. Alterations were evaluated using acoustic and video recordings and 3D bat path visualization at wind farms in Texas and Illinois (US) from August to September of 2015.

Kerlinger et al. (2010) analysed avian collision fatality data from 30 wind farms across the United States collected after 1995 to observe the effects of various types of obstruction lighting on avian mortalities.

Gehring et al. (2009) studied the effects of various forms of obstruction lighting (flashing, non-flashing, white, red) on avian mortalities associated with communication towers in Michigan (US) from May to September of 2005.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2021) guidelines for obstruction lighting implemented on offshore wind turbines. FAA Type L-864 pulsing lights at the highest point of the turbine nacelle are currently recommended for offshore wind turbines.

Albertani et al. (2021) discussed the development of the strike detection system. The visual deterrent was tested with wild eagles in Oregon (US) in January and February of 2020. The integrated system was evaluated at a turbine in Colorado (US) in October 2018 and July 2019, and in New Mexico in April 2019.

Hu et al. (2021) evaluated the sensitivity of the multi-sensor strike detection system at wind turbines in Tucumcari, New Mexico and Boulder, Colorado (US) using launched tennis balls.

Suryan et al. (2016) conducted individual component tests at laboratories and field sites in Corvallis and Newport, Oregon, and in Seattle and Sequim, Washington, as well as at the North American Wind Research and Training Center in New Mexico and the National Wind Technology Center in Colorado. A fully integrated system was tested at the National Wind Technology Center in October 2014 and April 2015.

Wiggelinkhuizen et al. (2006) tested the capacity of the WT-Bird system for detecting bird collisions with 50 gram bird dummies to simulate the bird species found in the coastal Netherlands. The authors also discuss the functionality of the prototype system.

Verhoef et al. (2004) discuss the development and testing of the WT-Bird system as well as the unresolved challenges at the end of the project. The WT-Bird system was tested with tennis balls at a 500KW turbine near Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2004.