Swedish energy group Vattenfall has appointed Scottish outfit RPS and Denmark-based DHI Group to start the next phase of research into the impact of offshore wind farms on birds at the Aberdeen Bay project off Scotland.
The study will kick off next week at the wind farm, which is also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC).
The researchers will deploy radar-camera based digital technology that will monitor the flight patterns and responses of gannet, kittiwake and large gulls flying during the summer breeding season through and close to Aberdeen Bay.
Vattenfall said the research is believed to be a world-first and is funded by the test and demonstration facility’s €3m Scientific Research and Monitoring Programme.
Vattenfall senior environmental specialist Chris Jackson said: “The evidence gathered by this research will help decision makers to support the sustainable growth of the offshore wind industry, which is particularly important at a time when the sector is readying itself for rapid expansion.”
RPS technical director Mike Armitage said: “The high-performance radar system, communicating digitally with long-range pan tilt cameras installed at the base of the turbine, will collect three-dimensional radar tracks as well as video footage of birds moving through the wind farm.
“This cutting edge technology ensures that specific species, flight height as well as their individual and group behaviour can be identified, throughout the wind farm during its operation.”