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DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Selects a New Project that Aims to Address Wind-Wildlife Operational Challenges

The new project will advance early-stage technologies for wildlife monitoring and minimization at wind energy facilities.

Wind Energy Technologies Office

September 5, 2019
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A bald eagle flying over a field in front of a wind turbine.

The Technology Development and Innovation program at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory supports efforts to reduce the impact of wind technologies on wildlife such as birds and bats. Photo: NREL 35730

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has selected a new project to advance early-stage technologies for wildlife monitoring and minimization at wind energy facilities.

This project is part of the Technology Development and Innovation program, which is funded by the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and managed by NREL. In addition to funding, the program provides recipients access to NREL facilities and expertise to develop emerging technologies that detect and deter birds and bats at wind farms.

Selectees in this program have the opportunity to conduct research at NREL's National Wind Technology Center at the Flatirons Campus, which is home to world-class researchers, wind turbines, instrumentation, and testing capabilities, as well as extreme weather conditions that allow for testing and validation in all conditions.

The selected project will run for 18 months and will conclude with a technical report and webinar or public presentation on the results.

Learn more about WETO's work to assess and mitigate wind's environmental impacts, and find out more about the project that was selected.

Tags:
  • Wind Energy
  • Renewable Energy
  • Clean Energy
  • National Labs
  • Energy Efficiency