Ecowende is working with specialist companies to implement a framework for bird and bat monitoring at its offshore wind projects.
The developer is teaming up with Robin Radar Systems, MIDO and DHI, three companies at the forefront of detection systems for and data collection on various birds and bats.
Their technologies, which include Robin Radar’s MAX bird and bat radar systems, DHI’s sensor integration and artificial intelligence (AI) species recognition solution MUSE and MIDO’s power-generating floating platform FLORA 1 will be deployed in Ecowende’s future offshore wind farm.
By combining these technologies, Ecowende will be able to accurately assess the impact of the wind farm on ecology and the effectiveness of its ecological innovations.
Together with partners, it intends to set a new ecological standard for building and operating offshore wind farms, with a minimal impact on the natural habitat of birds, bats and marine mammals, and with a thriving underwater world.
To do so, the wind farm developer – a joint venture of Shell, Chubu and Eneco – puts “state-of-the-art” monitoring and mitigation technologies and innovations at the fore.
“Ecowende is the perfect example of the sheer passion for innovation in this industry,” said Sibylle Giraud, vice president wind and environmental practice at Robin Radar.
“There’s a real determination to keep finding new ways to protect wildlife while helping the green transition.
“We share that passion, and like us, Ecowende will break ground and take risks to make essential technologies scalable and sustainable.
“We are delighted to accompany them on this fantastic project, we will deploy no less than four flagship radars, including our first-ever MAX on a floating platform.”
To enhance Ecowende’s data collection, the three dimensional MAX radar systems operate every day of the year and in all weather conditions, simultaneously tracking and organising data into one interface.
Mitigating the risk of collision, or even implementing shut-down-on-demand (SDOD) when necessary, depends on an extensive understanding of bird behaviour.
The FLORA 1 floating platform has been especially designed for offshore installation and is equipped for autonomous operation because of its power-generating nature, by using a complementary mix of wave and solar power and battery storage, allowing for uninterrupted data collection by the MAX radar system on the platform.