A review of the effectiveness of operational curtailment for reducing bat fatalities at terrestrial wind farms in North America.

ABSTRACT: Curtailment of turbine operations during low wind conditions has become an operational minimization tactic to reduce bat mortality at terrestrial wind energy facilities. Site-specific studies have demonstrated that bat activity is higher during lower wind speeds and that operational curtailment can effectively reduce fatalities. However, the exact nature of the relationship between curtailment cut-in speed and bat fatality reduction remains unclear. To evaluate the efficacy of differing curtailment regimes in reducing bat fatalities, we examined data from turbine curtailment experiments in the United States and Canada in a meta-analysis framework. We used multiple statistical models to explore possible linear and non-linear relationships between turbine cut-in speed and bat fatality. Becau

SUBMITTER: Adams EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8598023 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature