A six-year study by Natural Resource Solutions demonstrates that combining NRG Systems’ Bat Deterrent System with operational curtailment can reduce bat fatalities at wind plants by up to 91%. Conducted from 2017 to 2022, the study evaluated bat fatality rates at two wind facilities in southern Ontario, Canada, using a sample of 10 turbines.
Researchers examined three operational scenarios: baseline operations, a 5.5 m/s curtailment, and a 5.5 m/s curtailment paired with NRG's Bat Deterrent System mounted on turbine nacelles. Key bat species observed included the Big Brown Bat, Hoary Bat, Eastern Red Bat, and Silver-haired Bat. The study revealed significant fatality reductions when curtailment was combined with acoustic deterrents. Reductions per turbine compared to baseline operations were highest for the Big Brown Bat (91%), followed by the Silver-haired Bat (76%), Hoary Bat (75%), and Eastern Red Bat (57%). Additionally, the Bat Deterrent System improved fatality reductions by 26–82% beyond curtailment alone, depending on the species. NRG Systems introduced its Bat Deterrent System in 2018 to minimise turbine curtailment while safeguarding bat populations.
