Presentation Description: The wind industry continues to have a dramatic impact on bats globally. Historically, the most adopted method to reduce bat mortality at wind plants is through the implementation of low wind speed curtailment (shutting down a wind project) when given parameters are met while bats are present. This is a very effective method for reducing immediate mortality, but it comes at a cost. Directly, the project misses out on possible energy production (0.5 – +3.5% annually). Indirectly, the replacement energy for a curtailed wind project is very likely fossil fuel. NRG has a solution that is a win-win for both bats and the wind industry in the form of an acoustic deterrent system. The use of NRG’s Bat Deterrent System allows a wind project to produce renewable energy while minimizing bat mortality and delivering project ROI to operators. Working in conjunction with wind OEMs, NRG and the OEM are further able to deliver additional ROI to wind operators by improving on the total cost of ownership. Learning objectives: 1. What is the bat problem in wind, and how are deterrents effective at reducing mortality? 2. There is a strategy for every wind farm. 3. Integration with OEMs allows for further optimization of project ROI.
Learning Objectives:
understand what the current issue is with respect to bats and wind, and understand how an acoustic deterrent can be an acceptable method to implement at a wind project that both protects bats and increases project AEP.
develop a strategy for their wind project that maximizes revenue generation while also minimizing bat mortality. Depending on a projects environmental and economic objectives, there may be a balance between the use of deterrents and curtailment, or just one method entirely.
understand how working with a wind OEM, and NRG Systems, they may further increase project ROI by optimizing the use of the deterrent following additional wind turbine parameters.