Wind Watch: August 2023

Evaluation of risk perception related with environmental noise among residents living in different vicinities of wind turbines #TUR

ABSTRACT – This cross-sectional study assessed residents’ risk perceptions and associated factors in three rural areas by administering a face-to-face questionnaire to 282 subjects. The association between the perception of risk related to wind turbines and related factors such as noise and annoyance was analysed. Outdoor A-weighted sound pressure levels were measured for all. According to regression analysis, age (B: −0.008, 95% CI: −0.015/−0.002), education (B: 0.415, 95% CI: 0.148/−0.682), noise level day (B: −0.040, 95% CI: −0.068/−0.013), noise annoyance indoors . . .
http://dlvr.it/SvB1cj

Evaluation of risk perception related with environmental noise among residents living in different vicinities of wind turbines #TUR

Projected cross-shore changes in upwelling induced by offshore wind farm development along the California coast #CA

[Abstract] In California offshore waters, sustained northwesterly winds have been identified as a key resource that can contribute substantially to renewable energy goals. However, the development of large-scale offshore wind farms can reduce the wind stress at the sea surface, which could affect wind-driven upwelling, nutrient delivery, and ecosystem dynamics. Here we examine changes to upwelling using atmospheric and ocean circulation numerical models together with a hypothetical upper bound buildout scenario of 877 turbines spread across three areas of interest. . . .
http://dlvr.it/Sv3zKk

Wind farm and solar park effects on plant–soil carbon cycling: uncertain impacts of changes in ground-level microclimate

Abstract – Global energy demand is increasing as greenhouse gas driven climate change progresses, making renewable energy sources critical to future sustainable power provision. Land-based wind and solar electricity generation technologies are rapidly expanding, yet our understanding of their operational effects on biological carbon cycling in hosting ecosystems is limited. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels can significantly change local ground-level climate by a magnitude that could affect the fundamental plant–soil processes that govern carbon dynamics. We believe that understanding the possible . . .
http://dlvr.it/Sv1wFC

Estimating habitat loss due to wind turbine avoidance by bats: Implications for European siting guidance #FRA

Abstract – Wind energy is rapidly growing as a renewable source of energy but is not neutral for wildlife, especially bats. Whereas most studies have focused on bat mortality through collision, very few have quantified the loss of habitat use resulting from the potential negative impact of wind turbines, and none of them for hub heights higher than 55 m. Such impacts could durably affect populations, creating a need for improvement of knowledge to integrate this concern in implementation strategies. We quantified . . .
http://dlvr.it/StzC6n

Projected cross-shore changes in upwelling induced by offshore wind farm development along the California coast #CA

Wildlife and infrastructure: impact of wind turbines on bats in the Black Sea coast region #ROU #RUS

Abstract – In Eastern Europe, wind energy production is currently promoted as an important source of renewable energy, yet in most cases without appropriate consideration of the negative impacts wind turbines (WT) may have on protected species such as bats. Here, we present first data on fatality rates, fatality factors and the likely origin of bats killed by WT in the Dobrogea region (Romania), located in a major migratory corridor for wildlife in Eastern Europe. Over a 4-year period, we found . . .
http://dlvr.it/Stwc39

Bat Mortality at Wind Turbines in Northwestern Europe #EUR

Abstract – We reviewed published and unpublished written reports on bat mortality at wind farms in northwestern Europe. The estimated number of bats killed per turbine annually was relatively low (0–3) on flat, open farmland away from the coast, higher (2–5) in more complex agricultural landscapes, and highest (5–20) at the coast and on forested hills and ridges. The species killed almost exclusively (98%) belonged to a group (Nyctalus, Pipistrellus, Vespertilio and Eptesicus spp.) adapted for open-air foraging. The bats were . . .
http://dlvr.it/SttcSf

Vibrational noise from wind energy turbines negatively impacts earthworm abundance #NLD

[abstract] Human activities often impact the sensory environment of organisms. Wind energy turbines are a fast-growing potential source of anthropogenic vibrational noise that can affect soil animals sensitive to vibrations and thereby alter soil community functioning. Larger soil animals, such as earthworms (macrofauna, > 1 cm in size), are particularly likely to be impacted by the low-frequency turbine waves that can travel through soils over large distances. Here we examine the effect of wind turbine-induced vibrational noise on the abundance of soil . . .
http://dlvr.it/StqqHL

Debunking the claim that “solar and wind are cheaper than fossil fuels”

If a company has a TV set that’s as good as others, but cheaper, they win by selling their cheaper TVs on the market. They don’t ask government to ban other TVs, to mandate their TV, or to give them hundreds of billions of dollars.
http://dlvr.it/StnMcd

Bisphenol A Pollution from Wind Turbines #GBR

What is Bisphenol A? Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. “Bisphenol A is the most toxic substance we know’ —Swedish Environmental Protection Agency New EU Hazard Classes 2023 • Endocrine disruption for human health • Very persistent, very bioaccumulative • Endocrine disruption for the environment • Very persistent, very mobile Avoid release to the environment! A different process takes place on the trailing edge . . .
http://dlvr.it/StbT1g