Wind Energy Monitoring and Mitigation Technologies Tool

iPCoD is a modeling approach (R package) for assessing and quantifying the potential consequences for marine mammal populations of any disturbance and/or injury that may result from offshore energy developments. It is designed to use the information likely to be provided by developers in their Environmental Statements and Habitats Regulations Assessments.

The MERLIN Avian Radar System is designed to use horizontal and vertical radar to determine the flight path of birds and bats with the intent of capturing flight data. The radar system can be adjusted to remain within a user-assigned perimeter. The system consists of radar hardware and bird tracking software for automatic registration of bird echos and for data collection during day and night.

The Multi-Sensor bird detection system MUSE uses a combination of horizontal radar with infrared and visual cameras in order to detect and record flying birds in the proximity of a wind turbine. The system is used by an offshore wind farms in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States to monitor bird interactions with wind turbines.

Mysticetus is a suite of tools designed to support real-time monitoring, mitigation, provide spatio-temporal analysis, and regulatory compliance for biological marine resources. Mysticetus provides a full lifecycle decision support tool that increases data collection efficiencies, automates data quality and control, and provides full, graphical situational awareness for protected species observers and managers. Originally developed to address potential impacts to marine resources related to oil and gas exploration, Mysticetus has evolved to include use cases specific to offshore wind siting, construction, and operation over the last six years for multiple offshore wind energy developers off the U.S. Atlantic coast.

SSRS (Stochastic Soaring Raptor Simulator) is a generalizable, probabilistic, predictive model that estimates the potential for collisions between soaring raptors (particularly golden eagles, which rely heavily on updrafts to subsidize flight) to interact with operating wind turbines, without the need for site-specific data collection. The model uses publicly available wind condition data and ground surface information, combined with energy-minimization principles to simulate thousands of eagles at turbine-scale resolution (50 m) and generate a soaring raptor density map. Model outputs may be used to inform pre-construction studies and siting decisions.

ProBat is software originally developed at the University of Erlangen for calculating site-specific shutdown algorithms for bat-friendly operation of wind turbines (WEA). The aim is to limit the number of bat strikes per facility and year to the value set by the authorities. In contrast to blanket shutdown times, ProBat can be used to calculate site-specific cut-in wind speeds (start-up wind speeds) depending on the level of actual bat activity on site. ProBat is based on extensive research into bat protection at wind turbines in the RENEBAT projects.

ProBat is a software and sensor package that uses real-time bat data from a Track Bat sensor and real-time sada weather data combined with theoretical risk data for both bats and weather to train an AI to prevent bat contact. ProBat's neural networks are constantly reinforced by supervised machine learning.

ProBird is a system for bird identification and collision mitigation at wind farms. High sensitivity IP cameras are fixed to wind turbines and arranged to provide several panoramic views of the wind farm. Infrared camera options are available for nocturnal monitoring. The video streams provided by these cameras are stacked and used to record raw bird activity. An algorithm detects motion and applies a quick size filter, removes turbine blades from view, performs a shape analysis to reject clouds and vegetation motion, and performs a risk analysis through use of a neural network. These analyses identify level of risk of possible collision events. In the event of a possible collision, one of two responses is triggered: an acoustic warning or an event-related shutdown of the turbine.

Robin Radar's 3D Flex system consists of a horizontal S-band radar, combined with a flexible Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar. The horizontal S-band radar aims to identify the presence and number of birds in time – including their location, height, direction, speed and route – up to 10 kilometres away. The FMCW radar has a 'scanning' mode, 'staring' mode, and 'automatic acquisition' mode. The system is designed to automatically switch turbines off and on again when the number of birds that enter a pre-set range crosses a specific threshold.

Robin Radar's MAX is a single sensor system that aims to create a 3D visualisation of bird flight paths. MAX consists of a radar system including radar antenna, processing station and user interface, breakout box and interconnecting power and network cables. The system intends to capture height information for bird tracks and bird movements and display data in real-time. The system is designed to automatically switch turbines off and on again when the number of birds that enter a pre-set range crosses a specific threshold.

The SCANTER 5000 Radars are solid-state surveillance systems which aim to detect and separate small targets close to large targets such as wind turbines and wind farms. SCANTER is a fan beam and solid state radar which connects to a receiver. Side lobe suppression is intended to allow the radar to detect small air targets around, between and above wind turbines up to 18 nautical miles. Turbine aviation lights can be kept off during night time to prevent light pollution and attracting birds while the radar ensures that the light is only turned on when aircraft are detected in the vicinity of the turbines

SEDFlume is a tool that aims to provide direct measurement of the erosion properties of marine sediment by measuring erosion rates with depth and characterizing erosion properties of layered sediment. SEDflume intends to be effective for any type of marine sediments but is most designed for fine sediment and fine sandy sediment mixtures.

Spoor´s software aims to use computer vision and AI to detect, track, and classify birds in wind farms to help developers and operators gain insights and guide mitigation measures. Spoor is intended to help developers to improve understanding of how birds behave while travelling in the vicinity of wind farms.

The BCAS Wind is a fully automated detection and deterrence solution for on- and off-shore wind turbines. With long range detection and deterrence capabilities, the system minimizes WTG stoppages providing fewer interruptions to operation and power generation. The system operates 24/7 without any operator input and functions in all weather conditions. The system uses a variety of sensors including a thermal imaging camera and an acoustic module.

The ThermalTracker-3D system aims to evaluate the flight tracks of birds and bats around offshore wind turbines. A pair of thermal video cameras sense movement of animals and objects, day and night, and stereo-vision processing transforms the flight track into three dimensions. Real-time processing aims to reduce data storage and bandwidth requirements. For floating applications, the ThermalTracker-3D may require camera stabilization to compensate for wave motion.

ThruTracker is a software platform developed for video-based automated animal tracking. The software aims to use time synchronized video from two or more cameras to detect moving objects (such as birds, bats, or insects) within a stationary background. The system can be used for 2 dimensional analysis with a single video feed.

Turbine Integrated Mortality Reduction (TIMR) is a detection-based curtailment system which aims to reduce bat-turbine collisions and economic losses to curtailment. The TIMR system is composed of sound detection hardware (ReBAT®) and software (TIMR server) which uses acoustic and meteorological data to calculate the risk of bat collisions. The TIMR smart curtailment system is an alternative to blanket curtailment as it only curtails when bat echolocation calls are detected.

The Ultrasonic Blade-mounted Deterrent is an adaptation of the dog whistle which generates high-intensity ultrasonic sound with the aim of deterring bats from flying into the rotor swept zone of an operational wind turbine. The deterrent operates passively using air traveling over the turbine blades on which it is mounted.

The GE ultrasonic deterrent system aims to reduce the number of bats from flying into the rotor swept zone of an operational wind turbine by producing broad-band sound in a frequency audible to most bat species (30-100 kHz). Compressed air moving through ultrasonic nozzles positioned on the tower of a wind turbine generates the ultrasonic deterrent sound.

VESPER Fixed-Beam Vertical Profile Radar works to provide species differentiation and identification of birds, insects, and bats based on measurement of wingbeat frequency as they pass through the beam. The VESPER system is capable of being operated independently or in concert with a MERLIN bird radar system to provide specific data on the type of target that has been detected, (i.e. bird, bat or insect) and allows inclusion/measurement of insect data.

DeTect has discontinued this product but uses aspects of the technology in the current MERLIN Radar.

The Visual Automatic Recording System (VARS) is a camera-based system developed for the detection of flying birds in the rotor-swept zone of offshore wind turbines. The system consists of two motion-controlled infrared cameras which intend to automatically record flying birds and a software system to detect birds and process imagery.

The Saildrone Voyager, currently in development, is a 33-foot USV equipped with a set of metocean sensors and a continuous wave LiDAR. Saildrone’s passive acoustics, optical cameras, and advanced machine learning algorithms deliver real-time detection of anything in the vicinity of offshore wind farms—including commercial and recreational boats or other vessels that may choose not to transmit their position, as well identifying natural visitors like whales, seabirds, and bats to support environmental impact mitigation strategies.

Wildlife Imaging Systems aims to improve wildlife monitoring and mortality assessments around operational wind turbines with automated artificial intelligence software paired with commercially available camera systems. The concept is to use three thermal cameras to monitor the airspace around the wind turbine, two cameras dedicated to monitoring wildlife mortality that falls to the ground and one camera dedicated to quantifying the activity in the turbine rotor swept area. The system software was developed to count and track wildlife flight paths.

The Wind Turbine Obstruction Lighting system employs lights of FAA Type L-864 with the intent of deterring bats and birds from flying into the rotor swept zone of an operational wind turbine. Lights are pulsed at a rate of 30FPM and positioned so as to be visible from all directions as recommended by BOEM with the goal of reducing avian collision risk.

The Wind Turbine Sensor Unit for Monitoring of Avian & Bat Collisions aims to detect the impact of an avian collision with the blades of an operational wind turbine. The sensor unit is triggered on impact and is composed of accelerometers, microphones (contact and bioacoustic).  Cameras (infrared and visual) installed on each blade will save a number of images before and after the event for impact confirmation and specie recognition.