Using Ultraviolet Light To Deter Bats From Wind Turbines—Short Science Summary

Bat

One hypothesis seeking to explain why bats collide with wind turbines is that bats, while relying on visual cues during open-air flight, mistake turbine silhouettes as trees. As a result, bats become attracted to the wind turbine in anticipation of foraging, roosting, and/or mating opportunities. As a technique to disrupt this attraction, a series of studies (including ongoing research) have investigated whether illuminating wind turbines with ultraviolet (UV) light (visible to bats but not humans) would make them visually distinct from trees to the point that bats would no longer confuse the two. During tests in a natural setting, bats appeared to exhibit a slightly negative response to UV-lit trees; however, during testing at wind turbines, there was no significant difference in bat activity between UV-lit and non-UV-lit turbines. At present, there is no strong evidence that UV illumination either deters (or attracts) bats, and existing evidence remains inconclusive. Current and future research should investigate the efficacy of UV illuminance with study designs that focus on increased sample sizes while monitoring for any potentially unanticipated negative effects to the environment when adding stimuli such as UV lights, which may, for example, attract insects.

Using Ultraviolet Light To Deter Bats From Wind Turbines—Short Science Summary

The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Bat Activity, Composition, and Collision Mortality At a Large Wind Plant in Minnesota Johnson, G., Perlik, M., Erickson, W., Strickland, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
A Preliminary Assessment of Potential Avian Interactions at Four Proposed Wind Energy Facilities on Vandenberg Air Force Base, California: Period of Performance: November 2001 - May 2002 BioResource Consultants Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Assessment of Bat Mortality and Activity at Buffalo Mountain Windfarm, Eastern Tennessee Fiedler, J. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
When Blade Meets Bat Williams, W. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Bat Deaths and Wind Turbines - A Review of Current Knowledge, and of the Information Available in the Database for Germany Durr, T., Bach, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Bats
Wind Turbines and Bats - A Pilot Study Ahlén, I. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Attraction Passerines, Birds, Bats
Bat Interactions With Wind Turbines at the Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota Wind Resource Area: An Assessment of Bat Activity, Species Composition, and Collision Mortality Johnson, G., Perlik, M., Erickson, W., Strickland, M., Shepherd, D., Sutherland, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Bats
Nine Canyon Wind Power Project Avian and Bat Monitoring Report Erickson, W., Kronner, K., Gritski, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Avian and Bat Mortality Associated with the Initial Phase of the Foote Creek Rim Windpower Project, Carbon County, Wyoming November 1998-June 2002 Young, D. Jr., Erickson, W., Good, R., Strickland, M., Johnson, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Passerines, Raptors, Shorebirds, Waterfowl
Mortality of Bats at a Large-Scale Wind Power Development at Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota Johnson, G., Erickson, W., Strickland, M., Shepherd, M., Shepherd, D., Sarappo, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
National Wind Technology Center Site Environmental Assessment: Bird and Bat Use and Fatalities - Final Report Schmidt, E., Piaggo, A., Bock, C., Armstrong, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Assessment of Bat Community Structure and Roosting Habitat Preferences for the Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Near Foote Creek Rim, Wyoming Gruver, J. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments Erickson, W., Johnson, G., Young, D., Strickland, D., Good, R., Bourassa, M., Bay, K., Sernka, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
A Roadmap for PIER Research on Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines in California Sterner, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Raptors
Avian/Wind Turbine Interactions: A Short Summary of Research Results and Remaining Questions National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Status of Avian Research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Sinclair, K. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Proceedings of the National Avian - Wind Power Planning Meeting IV NWCC Avian Subcommittee Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Monitoring of Seasonal Bird Activity and Mortality on Unit 2 at the Buffalo Ridge Windplant, Minnesota Higgins, K., Dieter, C., Usgaard, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Wind Power and the Local Environment - No Free Lunches Plowden, B. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
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