Radar Data-Based Model Enhances Bird Protection in Offshore Wind Projects
Finnish wind power pioneer Arenso Oy has launched a project utilizing ten years of bird radar data collected at the Tahkoluoto offshore wind farm to assess the impact of wind power on birdlife. The goal is to integrate bird protection as a core element of offshore wind development in the Baltic Sea, while providing guidelines for using radar systems in evaluating and minimizing impacts on avian species. The project has received €65,000 in funding from the Baltic Sea Project.
With the green transition accelerating, offshore wind power is rapidly expanding. Currently, Finland has only one operational offshore wind farm — the Tahkoluoto wind farm off the coast of Pori, owned by Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy and operated by Arenso Oy. Several other large-scale offshore wind projects are under development in Finland, with a combined capacity of several thousand megawatts.
Arenso Oy, along with its predecessor Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy, has been conducting bird monitoring at Tahkoluoto using Finland’s only offshore bird radar system for nearly a decade. Until now, there has been no detailed guidance or practical experience available on how to use bird radar systems under Finnish maritime conditions — a gap this new project seeks to fill.
The project will compile data and lessons learned into practical guidelines for wind power developers, authorities, and stakeholders. This will enable broader use of radar systems in domestic offshore wind projects — potentially benefiting both biodiversity and wind power development. Arenso aims to promote the adoption of radar systems as part of building a nature-conscious offshore wind sector in the Baltic Sea.
Project Implementation
The project will compile and analyze ten years of radar and visual observation data from the Tahkoluoto offshore wind farm to understand wind power’s effects on bird migration routes, movement patterns, and feeding areas.
The key lessons and best practices will be shared with the industry. The project will proceed in three phases:
- Assessment of radar system use for evaluating bird impacts and preventing bird collisions in offshore wind farms.
- Guidelines and recommendations for best practices, as well as insights into the capabilities and limitations of radar systems in Finnish offshore wind projects.
- Training materials for wind developers and regulatory authorities.
The project, lasting approximately seven months, is carried out in collaboration between Arenso Oy and One Planet Oy, and is supported by the Baltic Sea Project with €65,000 in funding.
“Radar-based bird monitoring directly benefits the sensitive birdlife of the Baltic Sea. If turbine locations can be planned to avoid key bird habitats identified through pre-construction radar observations, impacts can be significantly reduced. Radar systems also allow for stopping turbines if birds are detected on a collision course. In addition, land use planning and permit processes become more efficient when using standardized and comprehensive monitoring methods,” says Petteri Mäkelä, Environmental Manager at Arenso Oy and project lead for the Tahkoluoto radar implementation.
“Offshore wind is growing rapidly worldwide, yet the environmental impacts of large-scale offshore wind in the Baltic Sea are still not fully understood. Arenso’s project provides valuable new data and helps establish effective practices for future developments. The green energy transition must go hand in hand with protecting biodiversity,” states Amanda Pasanen, Senior Expert at One Planet Oy.
The project aims to answer key practical questions:
- How should radar-based bird monitoring be implemented at offshore wind farms?
- How can the data gathered through radar tracking be effectively used?
- What are the strengths and limitations of radar data compared to or in combination with traditional observation methods?
- How can wind turbine shutdowns be guided by radar data to prevent bird collisions?
For more information:
Environmental Manager Petteri Mäkelä, Arenso Oy, +358 40 0187 028, petteri.makela@arenso.fi