In Australia, bats play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help control pest populations and contribute to the pollination of native plants. However, these vital animals face a threat from a technology designed to aid the environment: wind turbines.
The renewable energy infrastructure has become a significant danger to bat populations. Researchers estimate that up to 50,000 bats are killed annually by turbine blades in the Australian state of Victoria alone. This trend prompted environmental groups to advocate for changes to turbine operations to protect these vulnerable species.
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Studies showed that faster-moving blades could reduce bat fatalities by an average of 40%. Bats tend to be more active around slower-turning turbines, as the conditions are more favorable for flying near them. By increasing the speed of the blades, the environment becomes less suitable for the bats, encouraging them to avoid the turbines altogether.
The proposal to speed up turbines, however, comes with its own set of challenges. Faster turbine speeds result in a slight reduction in both energy production and revenue for utility providers.
The potential benefits of increasing turbine blade speeds was put to the test during a four-month trial at an Australian wind farm. Ecologists observed that faster speeds led to a 54% reduction in bat mortality, while energy output and wind farm revenue decreased by less than one percent.
[JACK AYLMER]
FOR SOME – BATS CAN BE A SYMBOL OF FEAR.
BUT THEY’RE ALSO A VITAL PART OF THE ECOSYSTEMS THEY INHABIT.
ESPECIALLY IN AUSTRALIA-
WHERE THEY HELP LIMIT PEST POPULATIONS AND POLLINATE NATIVE PLANTS.
HOWEVER, THESE ANIMALS ARE BEING THREATENED BY TECHNOLOGY THAT’S INTENDED TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT-
WIND TURBINES.
RESEARCHERS ESTIMATE AS MANY AS 50,000 BATS ARE KILLED ANNUALLY BY THESE SPINNING BLADES IN THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA ALONE.
THAT’S WHY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE NATIONS TURBINES TO ACTUALLY START TURNING FASTER-
A MEASURE THAT STUDIES HAVE FOUND COULD REDUCE BAT DEATHS BY AN AVERAGE OF 40 PERCENT.
THESE ANIMALS ARE MORE ACTIVE AROUND TURBINES THAT TURN SLOWER-
SPEEDING THEM UP CREATES CONDITIONS THAT ARE LESS SUITABLE FOR THEM TO FLY NEAR SO THE BATS TEND TO STAY AWAY.
HOWEVER, FASTER TURBINES ALSO TRANSLATES TO A REDUCTION IN BOTH ENERGY PRODUCTION AND REVENUE FOR UTILITY PROVIDERS.
THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF INCREASED TURBINE SPEEDS WERE PUT TO THE TEST OVER THE COURSE OF A FOUR MONTH TRIAL AT AN AUSTRALIAN WIND FARM-
ECOLOGISTS FOUND THAT FASTER TURBINE SPEED ACTUALLY CUT THE BAT MORTALITY RATE BY 54 PERCENT.
MEANWHILE, BOTH ENERGY OUTPUT AND WIND FARM REVENUE WERE CUT BY LESS THAN ONE PERCENT.
FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW RENEWABLE ENERGY TECH CAN IMPACT SURROUNDING WILDLIFE- DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER.
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