Hi all,
In my opinion one can get used to wind turbines – I even think they look fascinating from a particular angle. However, that is hardly relevant.
What matters, apart from their functionality which should improve over time, is the concern about danger to wildlife. One way used in Denmark (where many of the turbines are manufactured) to detect and avoid collisions is by using ground RADAR systems. These incidentally, also enable users in the avoidance of bird strikes on aircraft, as pioneered in Israel by Dr Yossi Leshem, a recent visitor to Australia.
According to a recent publication by the Danish Ornithological Association (DOF), Electromagnetic beams dispatched by the equipment make contact with single and flocks of birds and “return” as echoes, which are plotted on computers. Distances vary from, say, 3 kms for a few passerines to 15 kms for huge flocks of migrating waterfowl, and, as with all radar systems works by day or night.
In particular coastal, wind farm areas birds were detected flying around and even in corridors between wind turbines! In times of mass migration, the impending arrival of flocks at a wind farm, detected on radar, can allow operators to shut down the turbines until the birds have passed!!
@ Mark Desholm
At one wind farm, in the face of huge trepidation, analysis over several years showed that out of an estimated 250.000 Eider sea-ducks passing by, many close to the surface, the co-lateral was about 47 birds. Supposedly up to 70.000 Eiders are brought down each year by the hunting fraternity!
Food for thought…….! (excuse the pun).
Peter Madvig
