NatForWINSENT I – Nature conservation at the wind test site

The project focuses in particular on bird species for which wind energy utilisation presents a potential threat to the population. The occurrence of these bird species, in particular the red kite, in the areas around the planned test site has already been confirmed.

In the first and most important part of the project, a research concept will be developed with which to design and test suitable mitigation measures at a given site for protecting birds and bats from the operation of wind turbines in complex terrain at inland areas. With this aim in mind, the concept must fully allow for the unique opportunities that the WindForS test site offers. For example, there is still a lead time until the site is constructed, so wind measuring masts could be used and later the effectiveness of the measures can be verified by using the research wind energy site along with the second site as a reference for comparison.

The second part of the project includes plans for the groundwork for developing an automated bird recording system. This rests primarily on optical recording of birds using camera systems and their integration with a machine learning algorithm. The project will compile a more detailed and expanded development plan for this recognition system and its potential combination with other data sources (e.g. radar).

The species occurring in the planning area and its immediate surroundings have already been surveyed during the preliminary studies for the statutory species protection expert report as part of the emission control approval procedure. In the third part of the project these studies will be expanded in places and extended over a larger range.