Advanced Technology for Wind Farms (ieee spectrum)

BLOGS // ENERGYWISE

Radar Systems A Solution to Wind Power's Bird and Bat Problem?

POSTED BY: DAVE LEVITAN  /  THU, OCTOBER 13, 2011

A common concern with wind farms is that they can kill birds and bats flying through. The most high profile example is the Altamont Pass farm in California, where golden eagles and other species have had trouble navigating the tightly packed turbines. A company called DeTect, though, thinks they have a way to mitigate wind energy's impacts on birds and bats.

The Merlin Avian Radar System plants a radar transmitter in the midst of a wind farm, and looks out for migratory birds that might be passing through. If it sees some and determines they might fly into the midst of the turbines, it can automatically shut down the turbines in question to allow the birds' safe passage. A couple of these systems are already up and running, at wind farms in Texas(pictured).

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