Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/K007610/1
[ECOSYSTEM]: Evaluating methods to deter bats from approaching wind turbines
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor G Jones, University of Bristol, Biological Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Climate change is a major and long-term threat to biodiversity on Earth. Many industrialised countries, including the UK,have identified targets to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide, the largest contributor to climate change. Renewable energy, especially wind energy, will undoubtedly contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. The UK Government has set a target of obtaining 20% of its energy requirement from renewable sources by 2020, but currently wind energy contributes less than 2.2% of the UK's electricity supply. Wind energy provided by onshore wind turbines is expected to rise exponentially over the next decade to help meet the Government's target. Despite the benefits of wind energy, there are growing concerns about the potential impact of wind farms on bat populations due to high numbers of bat fatalities recorded at wind farms in North America and Europe. Two methods for reducing bat fatalities at wind farms have shown potential from research in North America. Reducing the speed at which turbines become operational reduces fatalities. However reducing turbine cut-in speeds can incur costs to wind farm operators as electricity generation is reduced. Hence wind farm operators are interested in developing ways of deterring bats from turbines. Initial trials with ultrasound deterrents in the US have shown some promise, but their effectiveness regarding European bats with different echolocation calls remain unknown. We aim to test experimentally whether ultrasound deterrents reduce bat activity at height (at meteorological masts and/or operational wind turbines) and we will also test whether radar - which reduces bat activity at feeding sites - also reduces the activity of bats flying at height. We will use acoustic monitoring with automatic identification of echolocation calls and stereo reconstruction of flight paths to quantify whether bat activity is reduced when deterrents are operational, and to quantify behavioural responses of bats to deterrents. Knowledge of potential deterrent mechanisms will allow wind energy companies to make informed decisions about how to reduce fatalities of bats that are protected under European law, and we will cooperate with a leading wind energy supplier and innovator to transfer research findings into the development of more bat-friendly turbines that might allow the construction of wind farms at sites where siting in currently prohibited because of the risk to bats. Our results can make a real difference to decision-making regarding the siting of wind farms, allowing wind farm developers to use research on innovative deterrent devices to reduce bat casualties at existing wind turbines, and to potentially develop wind energy at sites where it is not currently possible to do so because of the presence of protected bat species.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/K007610/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Open CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £78,445
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £13,979 | £15,274 | £49,194 |
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