While a rapid development of renewable energy sources and deployment of wind farms is necessary to reach climate goals, there are concerns about negative impacts of wind farms on ecosystems. In previous studies, these effects were analysed on small spatial scales, however, since ecological processes occur at broader scales, impacts should be assessed at European, national and sub-national scales. This deliverable is the first version (D1.7 (a)) of WIMBY’s impact assessment on terrestrial and marine fauna. High-resolution, spatially explicit impact models and analyses for target species are provided for selected pilot regions: Styria (Austria) and Pantelleria (Italy). A workflow for a fine-scale assessment of potential effects of targeted wind power plants on wildlife is demonstrated for the pilot region Rogaland (Norway). Ecological niche models for selected target species showed that habitats suitable for species can overlap, thereby, careful siting of wind farms and the protection of areas of high sensitivity can minimize impacts of wind farms on these species. Additional mitigation measures, for example painting of turbine blades and towers, curtailment or deterrents can reduce risks of collision.
Pilot Sites