Stakeholders Convene to Discuss Minimizing Wildlife Impacts

July 11, 2018

On June 20–21, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosted the annual Wind-Wildlife Technology Development & Innovation Open House at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colorado. Co-facilitated with DOE and the American Wind Wildlife Institute, the event brought together more than 60 diverse stakeholders to discuss how to minimize risks to wildlife while maximizing the potential of wind energy projects. This year’s open house showcased the expanding capabilities of NREL in the research and development of detection and deterrent systems for birds and bats at wind farms. Speakers discussed leveraging lessons learned from the aviation, transmission, offshore wind, solar, and oil and gas industries. DOE provided funding support for an integration forum panel following the open house to foster conversations across industries, including how detection and deterrent technologies can more effectively be incorporated into turbine and wind farm designs.