How High Performing Technology Impacts Curtailment Strategies to Protect Wildlife
(Room Tech Innovation Station)
22 May 19
11:45 AM
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12:10 PM
Tracks:
Operational Strategies
Machine vision systems for detecting protected avian species have been developed and are continuing to develop that support decision making to curtail turbines to protect the animals from collision with a rotating turbine. While machine systems may excel over human systems for detection and classification, the decision to curtail may involve complex assessments of species presence, trajectory, behavior, cost of action, and costs of inaction, as well as potential regulatory responses. Based on experience gained at a large wind farm in Wyoming with high eagle risk and a smaller test facility in California with relatively low eagle risk, this paper examines a spectrum of strategies, from conservative to aggressive, with their respective pros and cons.