Radar may cut bat deaths at wind farms
The Scotsman|March 14, 2007
RADAR might help to reduce the number of bats being killed by wind turbines, according to new research. Bats are repelled by electro-magnetic radiation emitted from radar installations, scientists at Aberdeen University have found. They believe fitting radar systems to wind turbines might prevent the bats from flying too close to their rotors. The team studied the behaviour of bats at various distances from ten radar installations across Scotland last summer. They found that bats did not forage in areas where high levels of radiation were present.
RADAR might help to reduce the number of bats being killed by wind turbines, according to new research. Bats are repelled by electro-magnetic radiation emitted from radar installations, scientists at Aberdeen University have found. They believe fitting radar systems to wind turbines might prevent the bats from flying too close to their rotors. The team studied the behaviour of bats at various distances from ten radar installations across Scotland last summer. They found that bats did not forage in areas where high levels of radiation were present.
RADAR might help to reduce the number of bats being killed by wind turbines, according to new research.
Bats are repelled by electro-magnetic radiation emitted from radar installations, scientists at Aberdeen University have found. They believe fitting radar systems to wind turbines might prevent the bats from flying too close to their rotors.
The team studied the behaviour of bats at various distances from ten radar installations across Scotland last summer.
They found that bats did not forage in areas where high levels of radiation were present.
Professor Paul Racey, of Aberdeen University's School of Biological Sciences, said: "We found that the bats were deterred by the electromagnetic radiation emitted from radar …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]RADAR might help to reduce the number of bats being killed by wind turbines, according to new research.
Bats are repelled by electro-magnetic radiation emitted from radar installations, scientists at Aberdeen University have found. They believe fitting radar systems to wind turbines might prevent the bats from flying too close to their rotors.
The team studied the behaviour of bats at various distances from ten radar installations across Scotland last summer.
They found that bats did not forage in areas where high levels of radiation were present.
Professor Paul Racey, of Aberdeen University's School of Biological Sciences, said: "We found that the bats were deterred by the electromagnetic radiation emitted from radar installations.
"This raises the possibility that radar could be used to deter bats from approaching wind turbines.
"So far, this would appear to be the only real possibility of preventing bats colliding with turbine blades worldwide."
Bat deaths at wind farms exceed those of birds. It is feared that if preventive action is not taken, then some species might eventually become endangered.
The £20,000 study was funded by the Mammals Trust UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The findings of the study are published in the journal Public Library of Science today.