Eoldist, a Web Application for Estimating Cautionary Detection Distance of Birds by Automatic Detection Systems to Reduce Collisions With Wind Turbines

Julie Fluhr, Olivier Duriez*, Constance Blary, Thierry Chambert, Bettina Almasi, Patrik Byholm, Nelleke H Buitendijk, Jocelyn Champagnon, Mindaugas Dagys, Wolfgang Fiedler, Charlotte Francesiaz, Frédéric Jiguet, Simon Lee, Alexandre Millon, Flavio Monti, Lucile Morcelet, Ran Nathan, Bart A Nolet, Rascha Nuijten, Philippe PilardCécile Ponchon, Alexandre Roulin, Carlos D Santos, Orr Spiegel, Kim Schalcher, Aurélie De Seynes, Geert Spanoghe, Martin Wikelski, Ramunas Žydelis, Aurélien Besnard

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The installation of automatic detection systems (ADSs) on operating wind energy facilities is a mitigation measure to reduce bird collisions. The effectiveness of an ADS depends on a combination of parameters, including the detection distance of the bird, its flight speed, and the time to complete the chosen action (e.g., turbine shutdown). We created a web application, Eoldist, to calculate cautionary detection distances required by an ADS, using bird flight speed and turbine shutdown time as input parameters. We compiled a database of the flight speeds of 168 Western Palearctic birds from a review of scientific literature supplemented by an analysis of unpublished GPS-tracking datasets. To estimate turbine shutdown time, we conducted 137 field trials of experimental shutdown at seven wind farms and found that the duration to reach residual rotor speeds of 3 or 2 rotations per minute (rpm) was respectively 32.2 or 38.8 s on average. Based on this data, Eoldist allows the user to select a species from the database, wind turbine characteristics, and a residual rotor speed (3 or 2 rpm); it then calculates the time to reach the selected threshold and provides a distribution curve for the cautionary detection distance needed to prevent collision. This article includes examples of cautionary detection distances required for several species to demonstrate the sensitivity of key input parameters. Eoldist is freely available and should help the wind energy industry, ADS suppliers, and environmental agencies to define requirements for ADS bird detection that are compatible with the biology of the target species.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2971
JournalWind Energy
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Wind Energy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

  • automatic detection system
  • bird flight speed
  • reduction of mortality
  • shutdown on demand
  • wind energy facility
  • wind turbine

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