Australia could save thousands of bats a year with simple tweak to wind turbines, study says
Raising the wind speed at which turbines start spinning could prevent tens of thousands of bat deaths each year, researchers findFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralian windfarm operators are being urged to embrace a simple measure used overseas that scientists say could dramatically reduce the number of bats killed by turbines.Curtailment – lifting the wind speed at which turbines start spinning – is used in some European countries and parts of the US and Canada, but rarely in Australia. A global study published in the journal BioScience found it was an effective way to limit bat deaths.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/21/australia-wind-turbines-simple-tweak-save-bat-lives-study
Australian windfarm operators are being urged to adopt a simple measure to reduce the number of bats killed by turbines. Curtailment, which involves lifting the wind speed at which turbines start spinning, has been shown to reduce bat deaths by 40% on average. A trial at a Victorian windfarm found a 54% reduction in bat deaths with minimal impact on energy output and revenue.