Reducing Bat Fatalities From Interactions with Operating Wind Turbines (Fact Sheet)

Abstract

The PuzzleOne of the biggest advantages of wind energy is that, overall, it has relativity few negative impacts. Nevertheless, most professionals in the wind industry would like to further reduce the impact of energy generation on plants, animals, and their habitats. This is why the industry is highly motivated to find out why migrating bats have unexpectedly high fatality rates near operating wind farms [1], [2].Given that bats have the remarkable ability to detect and avoid moving objects through echolocation [3], the high fatality rates are somewhat surprising. Regardless, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working toward a solution. Recent NREL research has shed some new light on what may be causing these bat fatalities, and such information could help solve the mystery and reduce turbine related deaths.