By inserting sensors, cameras, and a radar system in and round wind generators, TNO needs so as to add extra insights to the continuing analysis into the effectiveness of 1 black blade. With this, TNO is finding out the circumstances beneath which birds fly right into a wind turbine and whether or not portray one of many three blades of a turbine black impacts chook habits.
The concept is that portray one of many three turbine blades of a wind turbine black might enhance the blades’ visibility to birds, making them extra prone to keep away from them. The examine with the extra sensors will run for a bit of greater than a yr to observe completely different seasons and follows on from the primary yr, which has already seemed on the doable results of a black turbine blade in different methods.
Sensors in blades
For a couple of yr, sensors and (thermal) cameras will likely be put in in two generators at Eemshaven, one outfitted with a black blade and one not, utilizing TNO’s so-called WT-Hen® system. The sensors are inside every blade and use vibrations to document every collision. The cameras serve for verification and species recognition. The pictures additionally map the habits of the birds close to the turbine. With the programs used, TNO needs to achieve extra perception into when the chook comes into contact with a blade. The researchers additionally count on a extra correct image of the variety of collisions as a result of the realm across the generators will not be universally accessible for guide searches.
As well as, microphones will likely be positioned on the unpainted turbine to detect birds acoustically. A particular 3D chook radar will likely be put in to map flight habits close to the generators. All outcomes will likely be in contrast with measurements from the Zwarte Wiek examine, which has been operating because the finish of 2021 and whose interim outcomes will likely be printed in spring 2024.
Significance for offshore wind generators
Since late 2021, the province of Groningen and vitality firm RWE have been researching whether or not portray one wind turbine blade helps birds fly safely between wind generators. Earlier analysis on the Norwegian island of Smøla confirmed that portray one blade of a wind turbine black ends in 70 p.c fewer chook casualties amongst sure species of birds. It’s being investigated whether or not this additionally applies to the scenario within the Netherlands, with completely different chook species and landscapes. In the meantime, one blade of seven of RWE’s current generators in Eemshaven Wind Farm, with a tip peak of 140 meters, has been painted black. On this examine, a hand depend is fabricated from what number of birds might have flown right into a turbine. This offers restricted perception into when and the way this occurred. There’s additionally no perception into any variations in chook habits round a turbine with a black blade and a turbine with out such a black blade.
TNO’s new analysis goals to assemble information on this and to know the black blade’s effectiveness higher. The outcomes are additionally essential for future offshore wind farms the place guide measurement/counting is unattainable.
