Windfarms in General: Wildlife

Developers are required to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment for all major wind projects.

A good overview for general information on the effects of wind farms on wildlife is the report on 'Wind Power in the UK' of the Sustainable Development Commission (http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications.php?id=234) pages 65-74 deal with impact on birds, bats, protected mammals (e.g.: otters, red squirrels...) and general impact on habitat and the water supply.

Birds:

I think, that while wind turbines are likely to kill some birds, we have to assess, if we have some protected species in our area and what the impact of wind turbines might be on this species.

Here are some links:

Bats:

The impact of wind turbines on bats is a hotly discussed topic in Germany, where accusations from both sides are pretty horrendous. (e.g.: wind farm opponents would be placing dead bats under the turbines....)

I have contacted the Bat Conservation Trust regarding their policy on windfarms and have received an interseting reply:

Here are some excerpts:

  • Bat Conservation Trust supports the development of sustainable energy but, in line with the recent Eurobats resolution
  • There is very little information about the effects of wind turbines on bats, and what there is comes mainly from the USA and continental Europe, where the situation is slightly different due to the migration of bats in these countries. From the studies in America, Germany and Spain it appears that bats are most at risk during migration flights, and most UK bats do not generally migrate long distances.
  • However, because bats are very environmentally sensitive and their numbers have been declining rapidly, it is important to look at the impact of each individual wind turbine site. We suggest that a full Environmental Impact Survey should be carried out at all potential sites to make sure that particularly sensitive sites are avoided.
  • This is not yet a legal requirement, but it seems to be quite reasonable to ask the planning department of your local council to ensure that one is carried out before planning permission is granted. The survey should be carried out by independent ecological consultants such as members of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (www.ieem.org.uk)
  • The council should also be encouraged to make post installation monitoring a condition of planning permission, so that if the turbines are installed, regular checks are made on their environmental impact (for example counting dead bats and birds found around the site). This may allow better data to be gathered and allow for better siting of future turbines.

I have also contacted the local officer of the Bat Conservaion Trust regarding species in the area and closeby bat roosts. I will publish her reply here, as soon as I receive it.

Here is a link to the Eurobats resolution.

Other mammals:

I havn't done much research here, so this is only my personal opinion:

I think, the main impact on other wildlife will be during the construction phase of a windfarm. To my opinion wildlife does best, when it is left alone and I can remember an article in the BBC Wildlife magazine on wildlife havens next to airport runways and the area around Chernobyl....