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Impacts of onshore wind energy production on birds and bats: recommendations for future life cycle impact assessment developments

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment volume 23, pages 2007–2023 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Models for quantifying impacts on biodiversity from renewable energy technologies are lacking within life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). We aim to provide an overview of the effects of wind energy on birds and bats, with a focus on quantitative methods. Furthermore, we investigate and provide the necessary background for how these can be integrated into new developments of LCIA models in future.

Methods

We reviewed available literature summarizing the effects of wind energy developments on birds and bats. We provide an overview of available quantitative assessment methods that have been employed outside of the LCIA framework to model the different impacts of wind energy developments on wildlife. Combining the acquired knowledge on impact pathways and associated quantitative methods, we propose possibilities for future approaches for a wind energy impact assessment methodology for LCIA.

Results and discussion

Wind energy production has impacts on terrestrial biodiversity through three main pathways: collision, disturbance, and habitat alterations. Birds and bats are consistently considered the most affected taxonomic groups, with different responses to the before-mentioned impact pathways. Outside of the LCIA framework, current quantitative impact assessment prediction models include collision risk models, species distribution models, individual-based models, and population modeling approaches. Developed indices allow scaling of species-specific vulnerability to mortality, disturbance, and/or habitat alterations.

Conclusions

Although insight into the causes behind collision risk, disturbance, and habitat alterations for bats and birds is still limited, the current knowledge base enables the development of a robust assessment tool. Modeling the impacts of habitat alterations, disturbance, and collisions within an LCIA framework is most appropriate using species distribution models as those enable the estimation of species’ occurrences across a region. Although local-scale developments may be more readily feasible, further up-scaling to global coverage is recommended to allow comparison across regions and technologies, and to assess cumulative impacts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Research Council of Norway through the SURE project (project number 244109). We thank John Woods for support as a native English speaker and for valuable insight and discussions. We also thank Bram van Moorter for very constructive and insightful thoughts that helped us improve our ideas. Finally, we thank Craig Jackson for proofreading this article on the quality of a native English speaker.

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  1. Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

    Tiago Laranjeiro & Francesca Verones

  2. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway

    Roel May

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  1. Tiago Laranjeiro
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  2. Roel May
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Correspondence to Tiago Laranjeiro.

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Laranjeiro, T., May, R. & Verones, F. Impacts of onshore wind energy production on birds and bats: recommendations for future life cycle impact assessment developments. Int J Life Cycle Assess 23, 2007–2023 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1434-4

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Keywords

  • Collision
  • Disturbance
  • Habitat alteration
  • LCIA
  • Quantitative models
  • Wind turbine