Wind power - a threat to the bird population

[Cornish Steve]

We hear all the time about the possible threat of fossil fuels to our environment. What we don't hear is the damage done by so-called green sources of power. It seem, for example, that wind power in California has the potential to decimate bird populations.

California supports roughly 2,500 golden eagles. The state's largest wind farms kill, on average, more than 80 eagles per year. But the state is set to triple wind capacity in the coming years as it tries to become the first state in the nation to generate 33 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2020. "We would like to have no bird deaths and no bird injuries. But, once again, we have to balance all the needs of society. All the people who want to flip their switch and have electricity in their homes," said the Kern County planning commissioner.

No one source of power is without its impact. Contrary to what we hear in most of the media, solar power and wind power may well cause the extinction of several animal species.

 

We hear all the time about the possible threat of fossil fuels to our environment. What we don't hear is the damage done by so-called green sources of power. It seem, for example, that wind power in California has the potential to decimate bird populations.

California supports roughly 2,500 golden eagles. The state's largest wind farms kill, on average, more than 80 eagles per year. But the state is set to triple wind capacity in the coming years as it tries to become the first state in the nation to generate 33 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2020. "We would like to have no bird deaths and no bird injuries. But, once again, we have to balance all the needs of society. All the people who want to flip their switch and have electricity in their homes," said the Kern County planning commissioner.

No one source of power is without its impact. Contrary to what we hear in most of the media, solar power and wind power may well cause the extinction of several animal species.

Give em all TomTom's.
Earl

 

[TheBAB]

Sounds like a fair point to me.

Out of interest, what does solar do to animals?

 

[Esk247]

Sounds like a fair point to me.

Out of interest, what does solar do to animals?

cooks them when they land on your roof thinking its a safe haven.

the seagulls must hate it

 

[Cornish Steve]

Out of interest, what does solar do to animals?

Here's an example.

 

[roydmoorian]

Unfortunately these are hazards of a "civilized society" as is the destruction of habitat for various species to provide housing and food for the current 7 billion humans

http://www.worldometers.info/population/

The space taken by the house you live in today was once capable of producing food

 

Here's an example.

Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen plus tortoise's go to the Mojave Desert.

If the world does not satisfy its energy needs then the whole of society could well break down.

Earl

 

[MrCloser]

CS, You would have a valid point except that traditional coal/gas/oil/nuclear power generation is hardly friendly to wildlife, arguably more damaging even before considering CO2 emissions.

No form of power generation is totally carbon neutral or 100% wildlife friendly, it is more about choosing the least worst option.

 

[sharylchella]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif]What all the technical detail boils down to, is that the system will deliver a limited quantity of low voltage lighting. Say enough for outside area and security lighting is about it[/FONT]

 

[biovorm-ltd]

Isn't this thread about Wind power and not solar?

 

[GortonBorn]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif]What all the technical detail boils down to, is that the system will deliver a limited quantity of low voltage lighting. Say enough for outside area and security lighting is about it[/FONT]

 

[Clodbuster]

Only just seen this thread and I was involved in a trial carried out by Hull University in 2008 on the new 125m (410ft) turbine at the Croda Europe plant in Hull assessing the effect these large wind turbines have on the wild life. The fear is that birds are flying into the spinning blades. Initial assessments were not considered successful even if no dead or injured birds were found below the turbines as fox spoor was prevalent. The assumption was that these foxes were picking up any birds struck by the blades. An electric fence was subsequently erected.
Although birds in the area sometimes flew at the same height as the rotor blades, they very rarely flew close to the blades, usually taking avoiding action before getting too close - No carcasses were ever found.

Birds aren't stupid.

 

Only just seen this thread and I was involved in a trial carried out by Hull University in 2008 on the new 125m (410ft) turbine at the Croda Europe plant in Hull assessing the effect these large wind turbines have on the wild life. The fear is that birds are flying into the spinning blades. Initial assessments were not considered successful even if no dead or injured birds were found below the turbines as fox spoor was prevalent. The assumption was that these foxes were picking up any birds struck by the blades. An electric fence was subsequently erected.
Although birds in the area sometimes flew at the same height as the rotor blades, they very rarely flew close to the blades, usually taking avoiding action before getting too close - No carcasses were ever found.

Birds aren't stupid.

Not only that but the blades turn so slowly that the birds would have plenty of time to avoid them.

Allied to there excellent eyesight.

Earl

 

[Clodbuster]

Many people ***** at the sight of these windmills, I was just wondering what the reaction was in 1200 when the first mills were being erected. Shock horror. Now they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Every village should have one and every town should have a couple.

 

[utilitiessavings]

Personally I think they are a very expensive form of energy, and they are well-known to kill lots of birds and other flying creatures like bats (because they interfere with their sonar).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NAAzBArYdw

It wouldn't be so bad if they actually produced a decent amount of energy, but they are incredibly inefficient.

 

[MrCloser]

Personally I think they are a very expensive form of energy, and they are well-known to kill lots of birds and other flying creatures like bats (because they interfere with their sonar).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NAAzBArYdw

It wouldn't be so bad if they actually produced a decent amount of energy, but they are incredibly inefficient.

All renewable energy is very expensive, compared to oil and gas at the moment. As energy prices rise sharply over the next few years and renewables technology gets cheaper the gap will narrow imo. Also fossil fuels have a finite supply, renewables are not.

As for their efficiency it depends how you measure it, some critics are citing wind farms working at only a fraction of their full capacity; unless we have a force 8 gale 24/7 for the whole year that is inevitable. One study quoted a farm producing a puny 10MW, 'barely enough to power 3300 kettles' it went on to inform us, in reality that is a massive amount of energy.

As for thermal efficiency, coal based power stations average about 31% thermal efficiency, a modern wind turbine is not far off that.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

All renewable energy is very expensive, compared to oil and gas at the moment. As energy prices rise sharply over the next few years and renewables technology gets cheaper the gap will narrow imo. Also fossil fuels have a finite supply, renewables are not.

As for their efficiency it depends how you measure it, some critics are citing wind farms working at only a fraction of their full capacity; unless we have a force 8 gale 24/7 for the whole year that is inevitable. One study quoted a farm producing a puny 10MW, 'barely enough to power 3300 kettles' it went on to inform us, in reality that is a massive amount of energy.

As for thermal efficiency, coal based power stations average about 31% thermal efficiency, a modern wind turbine is not far off that.

I'm blown away...

 

[athanne]

It may be true that wind mills turbines too contribute to wild birds death. But I don't think that the rate might be as high as that contributed by other energy sources. There can be no any source of energy without any environmental effects. What I believe is that the environmentalists are looking out for those source with minimal environmental hazards.

 

[MrCloser]

Bird populations have been falling for years. Then the anti-wind/renewables nazis picked up on this "fact" and have used it as another weapon in their armoury...as if they gave a toss about the bird population to start with.

Seems pretty incredible to me that birds would be stupid enough to fly into the blades, most of the time they seem to be moving pretty slowly.

 

[maddisondobson]

Thanks for sharing nice information.