Adapting wind turbines to bird behaviour

Norwegian researchers are currently developing wind turbines that can adapt their blade rotation speeds to prevent bird strikes.

Sound signals, lights, painting the rotor blades, and rapid shutdowns have all been tried in an attempt to reduce bird mortality. But researchers Paula B. Garcia Rosa and John Olav Tande at SINTEF are currently working on a new concept – involving turbines that adapt to bird behaviour, rather than the other way around.  What happens when a bird approaches an ‘adaptable’ wind turbine? “As the bird approaches, it is identified using cameras and bird radar systems mounted on the turbine”, says Garcia Rosa. “This identification has to take place at least five seconds, or at a distance of at... ... More: Official Press Release SINTEF

Keywords:

SINTEF, research, Norway, wind turbine, bird loss, bird strike, mortality, rotor blade, blade rotation