Eagle fatalities are reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

McClure, Christopher J. W.; Rolek, Brian W.; Dunn, Leah; McCabe, Jennifer D.; Martinson, Luke; Katzner, Todd E.

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13831

Cited by 39 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Automated curtailment is a technique to reduce wildlife collision mortality whereby wind turbines are stopped or slowed automatically when wildlife are considered at risk of collision (McClure, Rolek, Dunn, et al., 2021). Although promising, automated curtailment incurs financial costs, from installation of sophisticated detection technology and increased number of curtailments that result in reduced energy production (Allison et al., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Confirmation that eagle fatalities can be reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

McClure

Rolek

Dunn

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Automated curtailment is potentially a powerful technique to reduce collision mortality of wildlife with wind turbines. Previously, we used a before–after–control–impact framework to demonstrate that eagle fatalities declined after automated curtailment was implemented with the IdentiFlight system at a wind power facility in Wyoming, USA. We received substantial interest and feedback regarding our study and, here, we implement several analytical suggestions and include more recent data that strengthen the inference we draw from our results. The five main analytical suggestions we received were to (1) exclude from analysis data that were collected during the period when automated curtailment was only partially implemented; (2) only analyse data from a single make and model of turbine; (3) evaluate changes in the rate of fatality, instead of the yearly numbers of fatalities that result from fluctuations around that rate; (4) calculate a standard measure determining effects of a treatment in a before–after–control–impact study and (5) examine yearly fluctuations of the fatality rate during the before period. After incorporating these suggestions and including additional data collected since the prior paper was published, our results confirm prior work. We demonstrate that eagle fatalities were reduced by 85% (95% highest density interval = 12%, 100%) after implementation of automated curtailment. Rate of fatalities declined by 2.85 eagles per year (−0.67, 5.70) between before and after periods at the treatment site and increased by 2.26 eagles per year (−1.77, 7.37) at the control site. Overall, the fatality rate declined by 4.91 (−0.27, 11.27) more eagles per year at the treatment site than at the control site. The probability that the fatality rate declined at the treatment site relative to the control site was 0.97. Our re‐analysis strengthens our inference by using more robust analyses and data to support the conclusions of the prior study suggesting that automated curtailment was effective at reducing eagle fatalities at our treatment site. Because of the site‐ and species‐specific nature of our work, future research should examine the efficacy of automated curtailment at other sites, with other species, and under different curtailment regimes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Confirmation that eagle fatalities can be reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

McClure

Rolek

Dunn

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

Self Cite

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“…Radar has been used in several instances to monitor birds (Aschwanden et al., 2018 ; Jenkins et al., 2018 ; Plonczkier & Simms, 2012 ; Tomé et al., 2017 ), as has camera‐based technology (Aschwanden et al., 2015 ; Collier et al., 2012 ; May et al., 2012 ), and a hybrid camera‐radar system (Niemi & Tanttu, 2020 ). At Top of the World Wind Power Facility (hereafter, “Top of the World”) in Wyoming, USA, automated curtailment using a camera‐based system (IdentiFlight ® ) reduced eagle fatalities relative to a nearby control facility, but markedly increased the number of curtailments (McClure et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eagles enter rotor‐swept zones of wind turbines at rates that vary per turbine

McClure

Rolek

Braham³

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Wind energy technology has advanced considerably in past decades (Gibson et al., 2017;Veers et al., 2019), yet ecological challenges such as wildlife fatalities hinder wind power from reaching its full potential (Katzner et al., 2019). There is spatial and temporal variation in these ecological challenges. For example, some individual wind turbines are especially dangerous (i.e., they are identical in form to other nearby turbines, but the location at which they are installed makes them dangerous to volant wildlife; de Lucas & Perrow, 2017;Marques et al., 2014). Such locations might be avoided by wind power developers in efforts to lessen potential collision fatalities. Further, wind conditions are highly variable, creating temporal variation in the risk of collision at a given turbine (Barrios & Rodríguez, 2004). Researchers have consequently recommended that turbines installed in dangerous locations be rendered inactive during parts of the year, or under weather conditions when fatalities are most likely (Barrios

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“…The private sector has a long history of fostering technological development (e.g., aeronautics, computing, and communications), and in some cases, businesses are leading the way in developing and trialing technologies for conservation. For example, effective automated curtailment systems have been developed in the renewables industry to automatically detect at-risk birds and shut down wind turbines at risk of colliding with them (McClure et al, 2021), and online databases of biodiversity data are increasingly used by businesses to screen potential project sites and investments (e.g., IUCN, 2014). Yet in the most part, technology for biodiversity conservation has not been as fully embraced by the private sector as technologies in other realms of their operations.…”

Section: Why and How New Technologies Are Key To Improving Mh Impleme...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using technology to improve the management of development impacts on biodiversity

et al. 2021

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The mitigation hierarchy (MH) is a prominent tool to help businesses achieve no net loss or net gain outcomes for biodiversity. Technological innovations offer benefits for business biodiversity management, yet the range and continued evolution of technologies creates a complex landscape that can be difficult to navigate. Using literature review, online surveys, and semi-structured interviews, we assess technologies that can improve application of the MH. We identify six categories (mobile survey, fixed survey, remote sensing, blockchain, data analysis, and enabling technologies) with high feasibility and/or relevance to (i) aid direct implementation of mitigation measures and (ii) enhance biodiversity surveys and monitoring, which feed into the design of interventions including avoidance and minimization measures. At the interface between development and biodiversity impacts, opportunities lie in businesses investing in technologies, capitalizing on synergies between technology groups, collaborating with conservation organizations to enhance institutional capacity, and developing practical solutions suited for widespread use.

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Eagle fatalities are reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

Cited by 39 publications

References 22 publications

Confirmation that eagle fatalities can be reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

Confirmation that eagle fatalities can be reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

Eagles enter rotor‐swept zones of wind turbines at rates that vary per turbine

Using technology to improve the management of development impacts on biodiversity

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