babble home
rabble.ca - news for the rest of us
today's active topics


Post New Topic  Post A Reply
FAQ | Forum Home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» babble   » right brain babble   » humanities & science   » Do Birds Fly Into Wind Farms?

Email this thread to someone!    
Author Topic: Do Birds Fly Into Wind Farms?
Willowdale Wizard
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3674

posted 26 November 2004 05:44 AM      Profile for Willowdale Wizard   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
reuters/planet ark

quote:
Two major offshore wind farms in Denmark are giving the lie to fears that birds are being killed by flying into the huge vanes of such installations, a conference heard on Thursday.

In fact, not only were birds not dying, the Danish farms had actually benefitted the local environment, ecologist Charlotte Boesen of Denmark's Energi E2 energy trading and generation firm told the conference on wind energy.

Birds were simply flying over or around the huge packs of turbines, and the seabed foundations had created an artificial reef that was attracting new species to colonise and providing a haven for fish as trawling there was banned.

"So far the observed effects have been positive," she said.



From: england (hometown of toronto) | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged
Agent 204
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4668

posted 26 November 2004 09:30 AM      Profile for Agent 204   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
This is certainly good news.

Anyhow, even if the concerns were true, I suspect the good effect on wildlife from reducing CO2 emissions and hence our impact on the global climate would outweigh the harmful effects.


From: home of the Guess Who | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 26 November 2004 09:48 AM      Profile for skdadl     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
It is good news, isn't it.

I think the wind farms are quite beautiful, actually. I'd love to see a great big one just off our harbourfront.


From: gone | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
saskganesh
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4203

posted 26 November 2004 10:01 AM      Profile for saskganesh     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
high cost of initial outlay seem to be a barrier to rapid expansion of wind power.

these guy's turbines seem to be more affordable:

enerwest


From: regina | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Panama Jack
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6478

posted 26 November 2004 02:15 PM      Profile for Panama Jack     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by saskganesh:
high cost of initial outlay seem to be a barrier to rapid expansion of wind power.

these guy's turbines seem to be more affordable:

enerwest


These variety of smaller turbines are actually much more deadly for birds, as the RPM's with the propellers are MUCH higher, making it difficult for birdies to see the blades. However, they're much more practical for personal on-site and off the grid energy systems.

This compares with the huge modern turbines (up to 3 MW now) which at a full wind only spin at ~15 RPM!!! [It's amazing to think though that at this speed the tip of the blade is approaching the speed of sound, aint' physics neat?]

It should also be pointed out that birds fly into countless man made structures: powerlines, masts, poles, windows, cars. etc. The old lattice (and ugly ass) towers used for wind power in 1970s WERE and ARE much more deadly for birds, as they're apt to perch on the rungs of the lattice.


From: Vancouver | Registered: Jul 2004  |  IP: Logged
Tommy Shanks
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3076

posted 26 November 2004 03:35 PM      Profile for Tommy Shanks     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
It's amazing to think though that at this speed the tip of the blade is approaching the speed of sound

Actually, if you assume a 50m blade, which is mid-size turbine, the circumference of it's path is 314.15m(pi.2r). This gives you, if traveling at 15rmp, a total distance traveled of 4712.38m/minute or approximatly 78m/s. Fast, but a far cry from 340m/s.

[ 26 November 2004: Message edited by: Tommy Shanks ]


From: Toronto | Registered: Sep 2002  |  IP: Logged
Panama Jack
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6478

posted 26 November 2004 05:53 PM      Profile for Panama Jack     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
OK, good to know....

I was assuming a gigantic 3 MW turbine .... although even that would fall short using your numbers... maybe the RPMs were higher too....

I did get the unqualified blurb about reaching the speed-of-sound from a NEC-Micon representative , maybe he was refering the stat to a future gigantic turbine.... would 5 MW do it?

Still: the physics are still neat when you get aerodynamic blades this long!

[ 26 November 2004: Message edited by: Panama Jack ]


From: Vancouver | Registered: Jul 2004  |  IP: Logged

All times are Pacific Time  

Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
Hop To:

Contact Us | rabble.ca | Policy Statement

Copyright 2001-2008 rabble.ca