Birds at the territories of wind farms:

international and russian experience of observations

Rafikova Yulia 1 , Potanskiy Vladimir 2

4th International congress REENCON – ХХІ «Renewable energy– XXI century: Energy and Economic Efficiency»

5-6 June, 2018

1 Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 2 Bitca ecocenter, Mospriroda, Moscow

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

One of the most complicated questions of interaction between wind turbines and the

environment is its influence on the avifauna

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

Wind installations, solar installations, small hydroelectric power stations, biofuel power stations, etc., and their interaction with wildlife objects remains insufficiently investigated.

While the growth rate of the renewable energy development and its participation in the energy balance of different countries requires the consideration of this impact in the long-

term development planning in the regions

Stephanie Sawyer—Getty Images http://world-solar.com

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

The first large wind parks, which appeared in 1970s in USA, have been designed without taking into account the impact on the avifauna, as objects environmentally friendly.

However, after 10 years, the mortality of birds and bats from collision with wind turbines was noted, which was the impetus for developing methods for assessing the impact of

windmills on avifauna. Later, such guidelines were developed in Europe, as well as in other countries, where the development of wind power took a large scale.

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

Initially, the techniques were devoted to studies of bird mortality. Later, other types of impact of wind installations on birds, such as:

1) indirect loss of habitat, in cases where birds avoid the sites of wind parks and their environs, changing

their migration routes and habitats

2) death of birds as a result of a collision or interaction with the blades of a wind

3) direct loss of habitat as a result of placing on it the infrastructure of wind power plants. https://savetheeagles.wordpress.com

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

Despite the fact that wind energy has been developing intensively in the past few decades, and sufficient guidance has been developed in different countries to assess the impact of

wind turbines on the environment. However, they have poorly written methods for monitoring birds at the sites of wind farms. The main problem is the lack of unified

methods and, correspondingly, of unified world statistics.

JUDY SILBER

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

0

5

10

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25

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35

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USA (Kunz etal.,2007)

Europe and USA(Kuvlevsky et al.,

2007)

USA (Winegrad,2004)

USA (Osborn et al.,2000)

Denmark (Lubbers,1998)

Spain (Marsh,2007)

Great Britain(Lowther and

Stewart, 1998)

Birds mortality (the number of cases per 1 wind turbine per year)

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

The first large wind farm in Russia was opened in late 2017 in the Ulyanovsk region. At the design stage, ornithological observations were not conducted. At the stage of construction

of the wind park, an ecological and ornithological survey was conducted. For the basis of the research, the methodology of the ecology-ornithological survey of

aerodromes was adopted. Studies have shown that on the site of the wind farm the ornithological situation is relatively favorable - there are relatively few birds flying, dead

birds are not found.

M.KOROL’KOV

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

The authors conducted research on the sites of the Tarkhankut and Mirny wind farms in May 2017-2018. There were no dead birds in the

territory of wind farms.

Attention was given to several species of larks (Alaudidae), starlings

(Sturnus vulgaris), common kestrel (Falco

tinnunculus) and magpie (Pica pica)

Yu.Rafikova

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

In the areas near the wind parks at a radius of 0.5-1 km we noted such birds as the great bustard (Otis tarda), the demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo), the crane (Grus grus), the purple heron (Ardea purpurea), the tawny eagle (Aquila nipalensis) and the

long-legged buzzard (Buteo Rufinus). Most of them are rare and protected species

Viktor Tyakht

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

Problem definition Conclusions Russian experience International experience

1. It is necessary to create unified international methods for assessing the impact of wind turbines on air fauna

2. It is necessary to create single databases of ornithological observations in the territories of wind parks

3. It is necessary to develop scientifically based methodological recommendations in the field of environmental impact assessment for wind parks in Russia

4. It is expedient to involve not only biological, but also geographic methods, such as geoinformation systems (mobile and stationary), unmanned aerial vehicles.

Thank you for your attention! Спасибо за внимание!

V.Potanskiy