As governments look increasingly at wind power, and in particular wind farms, to address our growing energy needs, there is always a parallel debate about the effect of the turbines on birds.

According to NatureScot if consideration is put into the sighting of wind farms then there is a ‘limited’ effect on birds through collision and habitat loss.

Researchers have also turned their attention to how wind turbines affect bats, in particular the common pipistrelle bat.

The scientists monitored the bats at 23 windfarms in the UK and compared that with similar locations where there were no turbines.

Activity was around a third higher at turbines than at control locations, and two thirds of occasions with high activity were recorded at turbines rather than the controls.

The reasons for this are not clear. Possibilities include attraction to the turbines themselves, or the presence of more of the bats’ insect prey around turbines.

Dr Suzanne Richardson, explained:

“Either way it means the risk of fatality at wind turbines is increased, and probably explains the high fatalities of common pipistrelle bats seen at some wind farms across Europe.”

Common pipistrelle bats account for more than half of all bat fatalities at turbine sites in Europe.

Professor David Hosken, of the University of Exeter added:

“We know bats are killed by turbines worldwide, and reducing these fatalities is essential to ensuring a global increase in wind energy with minimal impact on bats.

“To do that, we need to understand whether bats are actively attracted to, indifferent to, or repelled by, the turbines at large wind-energy installations.

“Our findings help explain why Environmental Impact Assessments conducted before the installation of turbines are poor predictors of actual fatality rates.

“Turbines are generally built in areas where bat activity is thought to be low, but this may not be an effective strategy if bats are attracted once turbines are built.

“Ongoing monitoring is required, and measures such as minimising blade rotation in periods of high collision risk are likely to be the most effective way to reduce fatalities.”

The study also monitored soprano pipistrelle bats, finding no conclusive evidence that this species is more active around turbines.

Professor Fiona Mathews of the University of Sussex, who led the research, said:

“Bat activity at wind farms is very variable.

“During periods of high wind speed, when most energy is generated, bat activity is low and so there is little risk to bats.

“In contrast, there can be high activity at turbines on nights with light winds and warm temperatures.

“Most of the attraction to turbines appears to be happening on these high activity nights.

“We have worked with the Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations and industry to produce guidance to help minimise the risks to bats.

“These include stopping blades rotating when no energy is being produced (‘idling’). This is a win-win situation as little electricity generation is lost during these periods.”

Peaks in bat activity at turbines and the implications for mitigating the impact of wind energy developments on bats- was published in the journal Scientific Reports