Wind farms and birds

As part the Wind2050 project funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research we have mapped controversies on wind energy as they unfold online. Specifically we have collected two purpose built datasets, a web corpus containing information from 758 wind energy websites in 6 different countries, and a smaller social media corpus containing information from 14 Danish wind energy pages on Facebook. These datasets have been analyzed to answer questions like: How do wind proponents and opponents organize online? Who are the central actors? And what are their matters of concern? The purpose of this report is to provide a description of the datasets, the methods we used to build them, and suggest possible scenarios of use.

Smart grid is an advancement of the existing electrical grid. The key feature of the future smart grid is the decentralization of the main power grid into number of smaller grids (known as micro grids). Interconnection of the distributed generating (DG) sources is required with the existing electrical grid to enhance the reliability of the power system. Extensive integration of DG sources within a smart grid causes failure of a successful implementation of smart grid due to the presence of enormous fault current. Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) has the capability to reduce the fault current level within the first cycle of the fault current resulting in an increased transient stability of the power system. In this paper an application of a resistive type SFCL, designed in Simulink / SimPower System has been proposed to limit the fault current that occurs in an interconnected power system. A resistive type SFCL model has been developed in Simulink and the performance of SFCL at different locations has been analysed in the proposed system considering wind farm (10 MVA) as a distributed generating (DG) source with the conventional power plant, to reduce the fault current in micro grids. The feasible location of the SFCL having no negative effect on the DG source has been evaluated in three phase and single line to ground faults at various positions in the smart grid. Index Terms-conventional power plant, wind farm, micro grid, smart grid, superconducting fault current limiter, fault current.

This report reviews the pre-construction bird monitoring of the Monlora III wind farm, prepared by SEO-BirdLife. The GAP analysis comprises the ommissions and lack of existing information available during the monitoring that requires great improvement. With the scarce data presented the wind farm was supported with the green light of the NGO and approved by the Local Government of Aragon. However, there are critical potential impacts to the Egyptian Vulture. The wind farm is within 1 km of one of the largest roosting EV sites in the Ebro Valley, Northern Spain. Among the omitted information, there is the IBA program by SEO-Birdlife that included such critcal site since the 90's as a place to preserve.

To address the challenges of global warming resulting worldwide climate change leading to devastating calamities and posing basic threat to all living things on earth, modern day research is rightfully directed towards clean sources of green energy. Wind Power is the fastest growing environmental friendly emission free green source of energy. Effective long distance power transfer capability of the system is warranted due to locational disadvantages of availability of some Wind Power sites situated in remote areas away from load centre and even some best sites available offshore. This paper presents the study of doubly fed induction generators (DFIG) converter controllers integrated to flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) to improve power transfer capability of Wind farms over long distances. I. INTRODUCTION In the modern world, the gradually increasing electric power demand arising out of our power dependent life style in every sphere is necessitating generation of more electric power throughout the globe. To meet the requirement of ever increasing power demand, new power plants are being established in a very fast pace and in some cases the capacity of the existing plants are increased. It is however scientifically established that power sector is significantly contributing towards global warming which is directly impacting climate change throughout the world due to burning of fossil fuels for generation of electricity and polluting the atmosphere by emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore there is a definite need to look into various sources of clean green energy. Wind source has a distinct edge over other available renewable sources of clean energy such as solar power, hydro power, ocean wave power and so on. With the development of technology, electricity generation using wind source has drawn an increased attention throughout the world. More wind power integrated into the system causes power quality and stability problems. Therefore power utilities are developing strict grid codes which are to be satisfied by the producers of wind power. Voltage control and reactive range potential, frequency control capability and fault ride through ability are among the major requirements specified in the grid codes [1]. Due to the intermittent feature of the wind, power quality and stability problems are faced. This problem becomes noticeable, especially, when the amount of wind power integrated to the system is sufficiently large. In view of the variable speed operation potential, DFIG is becoming popular generation of wind power. Control of the voltage of the DFIG wind farm has been identified as the latest challenge with the present requirements of grid code. Variations of output voltage of a wind farm occur due to the wind gusts and frequent gradual wind speed variations. Also wind power plants are vulnerable during some transient states as well. Sub synchronous resonance (SSR) is a major challenge in long distance power transfer in wind farms and its damping is essential for effective system stability and power transfer. The wide use of wind generation warrants that the wind farms should be able to contribute to network support like the conventional synchronous generators. DFIG is a wound rotor induction motor with rotor insertion. The speed of the DFIG can be controlled by inserting changeable voltage of slip frequency to the machine rotor. It has become popular in wind farms, since it enables maximum energy due to its ability of operation in variable speed.

Busse P. 2013. Methodological procedure for pre-investment wind farm ornithological
monitoring based on collision risk estimation. Ring 35: 3-30.
Even though the proportion of wind farm victims compared to general bird spe-
cies mortality is relatively low, there is necessity to limit direct and indirect losses to
the bird populations caused by this kind of human activity. Estimation of threats to
the birds resulting from building of wind farms is a very difficult task and it must take
into account several constrains. The basic task is to build farms in localities that are
the safest to birds. This can be achieved by pre-investment monitoring and direct ob-
servations at the spot and then evaluation of potential threats and risks. Field methods
typical for the studies on bird populations are usually applied in such monitoring. The
procedure described below includes four steps: screening (starts the process and sets
preliminary constrains of the location), monitoring (standardised data are collected
at the location), estimations of potential collision risk and evaluation of the location.
The key parameters determining collision risk of bird species are: (1) the number
of individuals utilising the monitored area in different seasons, (2) air space utiliza-
tion (height and directions of flights), as well as (3) characteristics of the species be-
haviour. The starting data set contains: species name, number of individuals, height
of flight (three layers – below, in, above the rotor), and distance from the observer.
The final estimation of the collision index (the most probable number of collisions per
turbine a year) is based on (1) estimation of the total number of individuals that use
the defined area during a year and (2) estimation of probability that the individual
will collide. In the latter (i.e. 2) the most important is that birds can actively avoid
passing through the rotor swept (active avoidance rate) and that even birds, which
crossed the rotor swept area not necessarily will be killed. Calculations are per-
formed for each species separately and then are summarised to get the farm index as
well as season indices. Some values of indices for raptors studied at 76 localities in
Poland are given in the table.
The final evaluation of the site is made as shown in a parametric analysis table, discussion
of cumulative and barrier effects and the discussion of species specific risk to species of
high conservation concern.4
THE RING 35 (2013)
P. Busse, Bird Migration Research Foundation, Przebendowo, PL-84-210 Choczewo, Poland;
e-mail: busse@wbwp-fund.eu
Key words: wind farm, pre-investment monitoring, birds, collision estimation, methods,
cumulative risk, barrier effect, raptor collision indices

The Eurasian Black Vulture is a globally threatened raptor that in Southeast Europe only occurs in an isolated population in Greece. We examined the population viability for the species under demographic fluctuations and conservation scenarios. The current population showed no possibility of extinction for the next 100 years. However, simulated scenarios showed that the most important factor affecting the viability of the species was medium and high poisoning, leading to 94.8% and 100% probability of extinction, respectively. Furthermore, high reduction of supplementary feeding highlighted an 18.6% extinction possibility. Also, a high increase of wind farms in the area may result in 17.4% extinction possibility. Additionally, the non-establishment of the feeding station in 1987 in the study area would have resulted in an extinction risk of 7%. The species can be translocated to the Olympus National Park by releasing 80 juveniles over 10 years. The implementation of the conservation s...

The Eurasian Black Vulture is a globally threatened raptor that in Southeast Europe only occurs in an isolated population in Greece. We examined the population viability for the species under demographic fluctuations and conservation scenarios. The current population showed no possibility of extinction for the next 100 years. However, simulated scenarios showed that the most important factor affecting the viability of the species was medium and high poisoning, leading to 94.8% and 100% probability of extinction, respectively. Furthermore, high reduction of supplementary feeding highlighted an 18.6% extinction possibility. Also, a high increase of wind farms in the area may result in 17.4% extinction possibility. Additionally, the non-establishment of the feeding station in 1987 in the study area would have resulted in an extinction risk of 7%. The species can be translocated to the Olympus National Park by releasing 80 juveniles over 10 years. The implementation of the conservation s...

The Eurasian Black Vulture is a globally threatened raptor that in Southeast Europe only occurs in an isolated population in Greece. We examined the population viability for the species under demographic fluctuations and conservation scenarios. The current population showed
no possibility of extinction for the next 100 years. However, simulated scenarios showed that the most important factor affecting the viability of the species was medium and high poisoning, leading to 94.8% and 100% probability of extinction, respectively. Furthermore, high reduction of supplementary feeding highlighted an 18.6% extinction possibility. Also, a high increase of wind farms in the area may result in 17.4% extinction possibility. Additionally, the non-establishment of the feeding station in 1987 in the study area would have resulted in an extinction risk of 7%. The species can be translocated to the Olympus National Park by releasing 80 juveniles over 10 years. The implementation of the conservation scenarios concerning the establishment of a supplementary feeding site network, and the reintroduction of the Eurasian Black Vulture in its historic range, along with the elimination of threats posed by poisoning, low food availability, and wind farms would increase the probability of the species persistence and allow the population to become a source for dispersal across Southeast Europe.

Aim: In this study we intended to examine effects and impacts of wind farms on birds.
Methods: We have evaluated contemporary literature and professional monitoring reports and compared with our field studies. Since we tried to reveal the general concept of windfarm-aviants interaction, this study was handled through a theoretical approach. Our preliminary results of 4 years field studies were also compared with the findings of other researchers.
Results: Through extensive research, we have classified such impacts on birds under four phenomena as “Loss of Habitat”, “Collision”, “Disturbance” and “Barrier Effect”. These four phenomena roughly cover almost all the ways how wind farms effected birds. We also have clues of possible barrier effects and disturbance according to our preliminary results from our 4 years of field studies.
Conclusion: These four phenomena roughly cover almost all the ways how wind farms effected birds. Although these phenomena are indeed related to wind farms, not all can be seen at the same time at the same place. All these effetcs depend on species niche, flight strategies and topography of the site. However the results may seem grim, there are effective ways to for prevention and mitigation.
Key words: Wind farms, birds, collision, renewable energy, barrier effect, mitigation

Aside from the positive benefits of wind energy, wind farms often bring environmental problems
such as noise production and wildlife collision. However, little is known about the effects of wind farms on the
ecology of tropical landbirds. In this study, we evaluated changes in bird-community diversity, composition, and
structure directly beneath wind turbines, 200 m away from turbines, and in nearby croplands and secondary forests.
In general, our results show (1) a gradient of species richness, with values highest in croplands and secondary
forests, intermediate values 200 m from turbines, and lowest values beneath turbines, (2) fairly similar bird
abundance for all treatments, with values highest in secondary forests in autumn and lowest 200 m from turbines
in autumn, (3) bird communities highly similar at each season, but communities at 0 and 200 m from turbines differed
strongly in autumn and communities at the rest of the studied sites differed strongly during both spring and
autumn, (4) evenness of the bird community greater in secondary forests and croplands and lower at both distances
from wind turbines, and (5) the area covered by croplands outside the wind farm played an important role, often
related to increases in species richness. Our results also suggest that wind farms have a greater effect on wintering
migrants than on residents; however, further studies are required for such a comparison to be tested robustly.