A recent study suggests that painting one blade on a wind turbine black may reduce bird mortality. But more studies are needed before this finding can be considered a definitive solution.
September 3, 2020 · American Bird Conservancy
Creative and scientifically tested measures are needed to reduce the threat renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines, can pose to wildlife. Photo: Niek Goosen
(September 3, 2020, Washington, DC) A recent study (July 2020) from a wind energy facility in Norway found that painting one blade on a wind turbine black significantly reduced bird mortalities due to collisions. This is a positive finding. However, only four of 68 turbines in the facility featured the black blade. American Bird Conservancy (ABC) hopes that future, larger studies elsewhere bear out the same results so this can be applied more broadly.
“This is a good start in identifying additional ways to reduce the threat of wind turbines to wildlife,” said Joel Merriman, ABC's Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign Director. “That said, it's too soon to bill this as a proven technique to minimize bird mortality at wind energy facilities. We're seeing many people refer to this paper as if it's a proven method, rather than what it is — an encouraging starting point for further study.
“Above all, siting turbines away from high bird-use areas remains the best way to reduce bird mortality,” he added.
The study was conducted over an 11-year timeframe. Searches for bird carcasses were conducted for 7.5 years before the turbine blades were painted black to gather baseline data, and for 3.5 years after the blades were painted. The researchers used trained dogs to find bird carcasses, a commendable element of study design given that dogs find considerably more birds than human searchers. However, as the authors themselves acknowledge, the small sample size of four turbines being painted black substantially limits the application of this study.
“Unfortunately, even though wind turbines enable production of carbon-free energy, they are not free from environmental impacts,” said Merriman. More than half a million birds are killed by wind turbines in the U.S. each year. Considerable effort has been expended seeking ways to minimize these impacts through smart wind facility siting, technology, and mitigation. Above all, siting facilities in low-risk areas is of paramount importance.
It's also important to consider whether this technique could be widely deployed. For example, in the U.S., current Federal Aviation Administration standards require that turbines be painted white or light gray to increase their visibility in daylight hours. Painting turbines another color could raise aviation safety concerns.
“This pilot study is a great start,” said Merriman. “American Bird Conservancy is very supportive of such innovations and hopes that further, similar studies are conducted. Different colors, patterns, or less-conspicuous approaches like using UV-reflective paint could also be promising ways to reduce bird mortality and move a step closer to making wind energy development bird-smart.”
With the recent legal opinion that reinstates bird protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the wind industry now has an increased incentive to study these kinds of innovations. Hopefully this will be seen as a great opportunity to come up with a proven long-term solution expanding on the current study, as well as investigating improved turbine designs and other potential remedies.
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Media Contact: Jordan Rutter, Director of Public Relations, 202-888-7472 | jerutter@abcbirds.org | @JERutter
Expert Contact: Joel Merriman, Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign Director | jmerriman@abcbirds.org
American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation. Find us on abcbirds.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ABCbirds).
FAQs
The study in Norway was published back in 2020, finding that bird death from collisions with turbine blades dropped by 71.9% when one of the blades was painted black, compared with unpainted blades at the same wind farm. The study, which began in 2013, was conducted at the Smøla wind farm, along Norway's west coast.
Are wind turbine blades painted? ›
Teknos' advanced coating technologies enhance the longevity of wind turbine blades and enable short process times, higher productivity and considerable cost-out. These paint systems for wind turbine blades have been proven in different environment to perform in atmospheres ranging from challenging to harsh.
What is a short paragraph about wind turbines? ›
In modern wind turbines, wind rotates the rotor blades, which convert kinetic energy into rotational energy. This rotational energy is transferred by a shaft which to the generator, thereby producing electrical energy. Wind power has grown rapidly since 2000, driven by R&D, supportive policies and falling costs.
What is the description of wind turbine blades? ›
Blades. Most turbines have three blades which are made mostly of fiberglass. Turbine blades vary in size, but a typical modern land-based wind turbine has blades of over 170 feet (52 meters).
Why are wind turbines being painted black? ›
In Glenrock, Wyoming, three dozen wind turbines are each getting a single blade painted black. The new study will evaluate how this paint job increases visibility—and reduces risks—for eagles, other birds, and bats.
How to prevent wind turbines from killing birds? ›
Scientists have found that painting one blade of a turbine black, which can increase visibility, can reduce bird fatalities by more than 70 percent. And some wind companies are experimenting with using artificial intelligence to sense a bird's approach, powering turbines down to avoid collisions.
How long does it take to paint a wind turbine? ›
The tasks are undertaken when there is little wind and no rain to ensure the safety of the specialised wind turbine maintenance and operation workers. Each blade on the Cavar wind turbines is 65 metres long and up to 14 metres wide, so it can take a week to paint them.
Why do they paint wind turbines white? ›
Why are wind turbines painted white*? Why not purple, green, or black? Well, white* is a neutral color, so on a cloudy day, the turbines blend in with the sky. This helps wind turbines fade into the horizon, maintaining scenic views as much as possible – though we think wind turbines are pretty cool to look at!
Why are wind turbines painted GREY? ›
Wind turbines do tend to be either white or very pale grey – the idea being to make them as visually unobtrusive as possible. There is discussion about whether they should be painted other colours, particularly green, in some settings to help them blend in with their environment better.
What is a cool fact about wind turbines? ›
Wind turbines are big. Wind turbine blades average 210 feet long, and turbine towers average over 320 feet tall—taller than the Statue of Liberty. The average nameplate capacity of turbines is also increasing, meaning they have more powerful generators.
Wind is a major factor in determining weather and climate. Wind carries heat, moisture, pollutants, and pollen to new areas. Many daily weather patterns depend on wind. A coastal region, for instance, undergoes changes in wind direction daily.
What is a brief summary of a wind turbine? ›
A wind turbine turns wind energy into electricity using the aerodynamic force from the rotor blades, which work like an airplane wing or helicopter rotor blade.
What makes a good wind turbine blade? ›
Aerodynamic engineers wanted thin shapes from the blade root to the tip to generate as much power as possible. Thinner blades have lower drag and are therefore inherently more efficient for producing power.
What are windmill blades called? ›
A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, by tradition specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but in some parts of the English-speaking world the term has also been extended to encompass windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications.
Should wind turbine blades be long or short? ›
A turbine with longer blades will be able to capture more of the available wind than shorter blades—even in areas with relatively less wind. Being able to harvest more wind at lower wind speeds can increase the number of areas available for wind development nationwide.
Do wind turbines effect birds? ›
Wind turbines cause less than one in 4,000 bird deaths
While it is true that some birds die every year by flying into turbine towers or blades, the actual numbers are negligible.
What are wind turbine blades coated with? ›
The surface protection and coating can be a gelcoat or a paint and can be made of unsaturated polyester, epoxy, polyurethane or acrylic. As wind turbines are often erected in harsh climates, the blade surface will be exposed to conditions that cause erosion and wear.
