NatForWINSENT II – Phase 2

The project to implement nature conservation research at the onshore wind energy test site in southern Germany aims to gain a better understanding of the abundance and behaviour of birds and bats at wind turbines. Based on this, existing avoidance measures are to be improved and new avoidance measures, especially technical ones, are to be developed and tested. Furthermore, the testing of technical devices for the detection and recognition of species and for the control of turbine operation is planned. In addition, the recording of birds, bats and insects within the framework of field investigations using various technologies as well as the intersection of the data with meteorological data from the test field are further focal points of the research.

Procedure

After the construction or commissioning of the research wind turbines, sensor-based surveys, especially of birds - by telemetry, radar, laser range finder (LRF) - and bats - by acoustic/microphone and thermal imaging technology - will be continued as in Phase 1. Various modules will be implemented in this context as part of the work:

•  the (further) development and testing of stereo thermal imaging,
•  a camera-based capture of collision victims,
•  recording of insect abundance,
•  comparison and validation of different monitoring/shutdown systems and
•  the implementation of experiments to validate avoidance measures / anti colliosn systems at the wind test site.

The collected data and evaluations are to be used, among other things, to specify the requirements for technical recording and shut-off systems. At the same time, testing and evaluation of the effectiveness of various avoidance measures (in particular demand-oriented shutdown with a focus on wind energy-sensitive bird species) will be based on these investigations. The results will be used to gain knowledge about the behaviour of birds and bats around wind turbines and to make practical recommendations for the sensible implementation and design of technical avoidance measures on wind turbines.