Natural Power received funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in 2019 to evaluate the readiness of its bat curtailment technology, EchoSense, as an informed smart curtailment system.
Now concluded, approved, and published by the US DOE, this multiyear study confirms the system’s effectiveness and enables broader adoption of EchoSense as a smart curtailment solution in the USA.
The study comprised three main tasks. Task one focused on ensuring the cybersecurity compliance of the EchoSense system in accordance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC CIP) standards. Task two assessed the mechanical loads exerted on turbines when operating under a smart curtailment regime, while task three evaluated the efficacy of the EchoSense system at an operational wind farm.
EchoSense monitors bat activity at wind projects and initiates curtailment only when bats are present. The technology currently operates on multiple wind projects with approval from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Technical Assistance Letters and approved Habitat Conversation Plans.
