Onshore Wind

As onshore wind rapidly grows to meet energy transition targets, so does the pressure to manage impacts on wildlife. Birds and bats are particularly vulnerable – collisions with turbines blades can cause injury or death, especially along migration routes and near key feeding and breeding habitats. 

Managing these risks well is critical to enable the sustainable development of projects. Poor baseline data, inadequate mitigation or the need for post-construction corrective measures can trigger project delays, lender concerns and reputational damage. Addressing collision risk from the outset – through survey design, predictive modelling and targeted mitigation – reduces the need for costly corrective measures and minimises operational downtime.

Our expertise

The Biodiversity Consultancy renewables team brings deep expertise in ornithology and bat ecology, with extensive experience addressing wind and wildlife impacts across multiple continents. We work with developers, lenders, regulators and specialist partners on projects of all scales – from early-stage screening through to post-construction monitoring and adaptive management.

Our work includes: 

• Designing baseline surveys for birds and bats
• Applying Collision Risk Models to predict bird fatalities
• Developing mitigation strategies, including Turbine Shutdown on Demand (observer-led or technology-assisted) for birds and turbine curtailment for bats
• Designing Post-Construction Fatality Monitoring (PCFM) protocols to evaluate impacts and support adaptive management
• Providing advisory support to developers and lenders, and capacity building for project teams and stakeholders.​ 

Whether supporting a new development or addressing impacts at an existing site, we provide expert, confidential advice tailored to each project’s specific ecological and regulatory context. With our specialised experience on complex and sensitive projects, we work collaboratively with developers, specialist partners and regulators to find solutions that work for both wildlife and wind farm operations.