May 12, 2014
Wildlife

Altering turbine speed reduces bat mortality at wind-energy facilities

Arnett, Edward; Huso, Manuela; Schirmacher, Michael; and Hayes, John

Wind-turbine operations are associated with bat mortality worldwide; minimizing these fatalities is critically important to both bat conservation and public acceptance of wind-energy development. We tested the effectiveness of raising wind-turbine cut-in speed – defined as the lowest wind speed at which turbines generate power to the utility system, thereby reducing turbine operation during periods of low wind speeds – to decrease bat mortality at the Casselman Wind Project in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, over a 2-year period. Observed bat mortality at fully operational turbines was, on average, 5.4 and 3.6 times greater than mortality associated with curtailed (ie non-operating) turbines in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Relatively small changes to wind-turbine operation resulted in nightly reductions in bat mortality, ranging from 44% to 93%, with marginal annual power loss (< 1% of total annual output). Our findings suggest that increasing turbine cut-in speeds at wind facilities in areas of conservation concern during times when active bats may be at particular risk from turbines could mitigate this detrimental aspect of wind-energy generation. Edward B Arnett
Michael R Schirmacher
Bat Conservation International, Austin, Texas
Manuela MP Huso
College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis
John P Hayes
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2011; 9(4): 209–214, doi:10.1890/100103 [1]

Download original document: “Altering turbine speed reduces bat mortality at wind-energy facilities011 Altering turbine speed [2]”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/altering-turbine-speed-reduces-bat-mortality-at-wind-energy-facilities/

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[1] doi:10.1890/100103: http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/100103

[2] Altering turbine speed reduces bat mortality at wind-energy facilities011 Altering turbine speed: https://docs.wind-watch.org/Arnett-et-al-2011-Altering-turbine-speed.pdf