Papers by Kjetil Bevanger
Renewable energy production is seen as a key factor for reduction of climate emissions; however f... more Renewable energy production is seen as a key factor for reduction of climate emissions; however further development of landscapes and seascapes may impact the environment on top of existing pressures. Norway has committed to reduce emissions, and major efforts are put into technological and environmental research to provide knowledge and solutions to meet these challenges. This report synthesizes the knowledge on environmental impacts of renewable energy acquired through the EFFEN, EFFEKT and RENERGI programmes run by the Research Council of Norway; especially from the Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy (CEDREN), as one of the centres for environmental-friendly energy research (CEER). Due to extensive water resources Norway was among the first countries to base its energy system on hydropower; already from the late 19th century. Today, approximately 62% of Norway’s energy supply comes from hydropower. Norway has ratified EU’s Renewables Directive and committed to a ...
This is a electronic series beginning in 2005, which replaces the earlier series NINA commissione... more This is a electronic series beginning in 2005, which replaces the earlier series NINA commissioned reports and NINA project reports. This will be NINA's usual form of reporting completed research, monitoring or review work to clients. In addition, the series will include much of the institute's other reporting, for example from seminars and conferences, results of internal research and review work and literature studies, etc. NINA report may also be issued in a second language where appropriate.
NINAs publikasjoner NINA Rapport Dette er en ny, elektronisk serie fra 2005 som erstatter de tidl... more NINAs publikasjoner NINA Rapport Dette er en ny, elektronisk serie fra 2005 som erstatter de tidligere seriene NINA Fagrapport, NINA Oppdragsmelding og NINA Project Report. Normalt er dette NINAs rapportering til oppdragsgiver etter gjennomført forsknings-, overvåkings-eller utredningsarbeid. I tillegg vil serien favne mye av instituttets øvrige rapportering, for eksempel fra seminarer og konferanser, resultater av eget forsknings-og utredningsarbeid og litteraturstudier. NINA Rapport kan også utgis på annet språk når det er hensiktsmessig.
Large soaring birds of prey, such as the white-tailed eagle, are recognized to be perhaps the mos... more Large soaring birds of prey, such as the white-tailed eagle, are recognized to be perhaps the most vulnerable bird group regarding risk of collisions with turbines in wind-power plants. Their mortalities have called for methods capable of modelling collision risks in connection with the planning of new wind-power developments. The so-called “Band model” estimates collision risk based on the number of birds flying through the rotor swept zone and the probability of being hit by the passing rotor blades. In the calculations for the expected collision mortality a correction factor for avoidance behaviour is included. The overarching objective of this study was to use satellite telemetry data and recorded mortality to back-calculate the correction factor for white-tailed eagles. The Smøla wind-power plant consists of 68 turbines, over an area of approximately 18 km2. Since autumn 2006 the number of collisions has been recorded on a weekly basis. The analyses were based on satellite tele...
Renewable energy production is seen as a key factor for reduction of climate emissions; however f... more Renewable energy production is seen as a key factor for reduction of climate emissions; however further development of landscapes and seascapes may impact the environment on top of existing pressures. Norway has committed to reduce emissions, and major efforts are put into technological and environmental research to provide knowledge and solutions to meet these challenges. This report synthesizes the knowledge on environmental impacts of renewable energy acquired through the EFFEN, EFFEKT and RENERGI programmes run by the Research Council of Norway; especially from the Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy (CEDREN), as one of the centres for environmental-friendly energy research (CEER). Due to extensive water resources Norway was among the first countries to base its energy system on hydropower; already from the late 19th century. Today, approximately 62% of Norway’s energy supply comes from hydropower. Norway has ratified EU’s Renewables Directive and committed to a ...
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015
Because of the fast rate of wind-energy development it will become a challenge to verify impacts ... more Because of the fast rate of wind-energy development it will become a challenge to verify impacts on birdlife and construe ways to minimise these. Birds colliding with wind turbines are generally perceived as one of the major conflict issues for wind-energy development. Development of effective and practical measures to reduce bird mortality related to offshore and onshore wind energy is therefore paramount to avoid any delay in consenting processes. The expected efficacy of post-construction mitigation measures for wind-turbine induced avian mortality can be expected to be species-specific with regard to audible, optical and biomechanical constraints and options. Species-specific sensory faculties limit the ability to observe a wind turbine in a given circumstance. Their consequent cognitive perception may depend on the possibilities for associating wind turbines with risk, and discriminating these from other sources. Last but not least, perceived risks may only be evaded when their aerodynamic, locomotive physiology enables them to do so in due time. In order to be able to identify and construe functional mitigation measures these aspects need to be taken into account. Measures eliciting a series of intermittent strong stimuli that are variable in frequency may limit habituation effects; these should only be elicited specifically to mitigate imminent collision. Thus measures either adjusting turbine operation or warning/deterring birds approaching turbines are expected to be most functional. Warning signals may either be based on optical or audible stimuli; however, birds' hearing is inferior to humans while their visual acuity and temporal resolution is higher, but with great differences among species. Implementing effective mitigation measures could reduce the general level of conflicts with birdlife and thus enable both the development at new sites, at sites that have been declared having too high conflict levels, and utilise the wind resources better at specific sites without increasing the conflict levels.
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2014
Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2013
Evidence is increasing of bird mortality due to large-scale wind-energy development. Soaring rapt... more Evidence is increasing of bird mortality due to large-scale wind-energy development. Soaring raptors, such as the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), have proven particularly vulnerable to collisions. In this study, we compared white-tailed eagle flight behavior both inside and outside of the Smøla windpower plant on coastal Central Norway. During the eagle breeding period (mid-Mar-end May 2008), we collected data on flight activity (directional flight, social behavior, and soaring) and flight altitude (below, within, and above the rotor-swept zone [RSZ]) at 12 vantage points; 6 within the wind-power plant and 6 outside (control area). We found that white-tailed eagles did not show any clear avoidance flight responses to the wind turbines. Hence, we found no significant differences in the total amount of flight activity within and outside the power-plant area. However, we found less flight activity among adults than among subadults within the power plant compared with the control area. We also found a slightly increased probability of flight activity in the RSZ within the power plant, which obviously may increase the risk of collision with wind turbines. Our findings may help explain the relatively high mortality rate of white-tailed eagles in the windpower-plant area and the recorded peak in eagle fatalities during the breeding season. ß 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2013
On average, 7.8 white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) collide with wind turbines annually at... more On average, 7.8 white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) collide with wind turbines annually at the operating wind-power plant on the island of Smøla off the coast of central Norway. To better understand the impact of this wind-power plant on white-tailed eagles, we investigated how habitat utilization affected displacement effects. We collected data on habitat utilization in non-territorial subadult white-tailed eagles using global positioning system satellite telemetry (2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009). From these data, we estimated utilization distributions using the Brownian bridge movement model and analyzed them using Resource Utilization Functions. Home ranges were circa 10-30% smaller for subadults hatched on skerries and islets farther from the wind-power plant, and tended to be circa 40% larger during spring. Shallow sea, skerries, and islets were utilized extensively, as was marsh, heathland, and forest on the main island of Smøla. We noted lower selectivity for arable land and higher levels of differentiation in utilization among individuals for forest and islets. Females also had a nearly 4 times higher between-individual variation, which was likely due to longranging excursions. The within-and between-individual variation among seasons showed an annual pattern, with increasing between-individual variation toward summer. Displacement (indicated by an overall 40% proportional reduction in utilization) was more pronounced in the birds' second and third calendar year compared with their first calendar year, and during autumn-winter. Reduced displacement during spring coincides with the white-tailed eagle pre-breeding period with increased flight activity. This may, in part, explain increased collision risk during spring. Possible displacement effects in white-tailed eagles may be avoided by siting wind-power plants farther inland or offshore. ß
NINA Rapport 693: 140 pp. Norsk institutt for …, 2011
This is a electronic series beginning in 2005, which replaces the earlier series NINA commissione... more This is a electronic series beginning in 2005, which replaces the earlier series NINA commissioned reports and NINA project reports. This will be NINA's usual form of reporting completed research, monitoring or review work to clients. In addition, the series will include much of the institute's other reporting, for example from seminars and conferences, results of internal research and review work and literature studies, etc. NINA report may also be issued in a second language where appropriate.
Biological Conservation, 1998
Empirical data and theoretical considerations indicate that species with high wing loading and lo... more Empirical data and theoretical considerations indicate that species with high wing loading and low aspect run a high risk of colliding with power lines. These birds are characterised by rapid flight, and the combination of heavy body and small wings restricts swift reactions to unexpected obstacles. When the number of reported collision victims is considered relative to the abundance and population size of the species concerned, some Galliformes, Gruiformes, Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes species seem to appear in disproportionately high numbers. In contrast, species frequently affected by electrocution particularly seems to involve Ciconiiformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes and Passeriformes. An alarmingly large number of species with endangered and vulnerable status are identified among the victims, but there are insufficient data at present for judging the significance of mortality caused by power lines at the population level.
… -Climate Change and …, 2010
The wind power plant on the island of Smøla, western Norway, is currently the largest in Norway; ... more The wind power plant on the island of Smøla, western Norway, is currently the largest in Norway; it has 68 turbines with nominal capacity of 2-2.3 MW each, hub height of 70 m and rotor blade radius of 38-41 m,. It was constructed in two phases between 2001 and 2005. Approximately 60 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla territories are found in the whole Smøla archipelago. Before construction there were 13 Eagle pairs holding territories in the wind farm area and within 500 m of it, whereas in 2009 this was reduced to only five. Since 1996, baseline data on the White-tailed Eagle population size and reproduction have been collected.
Ibis, 1994
The causes of collision and electrocution accidents involving birds and power lines, and measures... more The causes of collision and electrocution accidents involving birds and power lines, and measures to mitigate such accidents, are reviewed. It is convenient to group the causes according to (1) biological, (2) topographical, (3) meteorological and (4) technical aspects. As regards collisions with power lines, the important biological variables are connected with the morphology, aerodynamic capability, physiology, behaviour and life-history strategies of birds. To understand the electrocution problem, the relationship between body size and electrocuting installations must be considered.Removing earth wires (and modifying earthing methods). modifying line, pole and tower design, installing underground cables and conspicuous marking of lines, poles and towers are important measures for tackling the problems. The route planning process should include careful mapping of (1) topographical features which are leading lines and flight lanes for migrating birds and/or are important for local movements of resident species, (2) topographical elements such as cliffs and rows of trees that force birds to fly over power lines, (3) primary ornithological functions or uses of the area to avoid key areas for birds and avoid separating these areas and (4) local climatic conditions (including seasonal variations) like fog frequency and prevailing wind direction. The outcome depends largely on a combination of these factors.Objective assessment of the effects of mitigating measures, in particular wire marking, is required. The mitigating efforts should be directed against species known to be potential collision victims, and their design should be the result of a careful analysis of the biology and ecology of the target species.Because of the cumulative effects of negative impacts on bird populations today and the alarming number of species with endangered or vulnerable status being killed in connection with utility structures, the problem deserves increased general awareness.
Impact of power lines on bird mortality in a subalpine area.-Four sections of power lines, amount... more Impact of power lines on bird mortality in a subalpine area.-Four sections of power lines, amounting to 4,000 km, in a subalpine area of southern Norway were patrolled from April 1989 to June 1995 to record birds killed when colliding with the overhead wires. A total of 399 dead birds and bird remains were identified as collision victims. At least 24 species were identified among the victims, the majority only represented by a few individuals. Ptarmigan (Lagopus spp.), particularly Willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), made up 80% of the victims. Season, power-line section and ptarmigan abundance affected the collision rate of this species. The highest rate was found in winter, marginally higher than in spring. Few collided with the power lines in autumn, and none were identified as victims in summer. On average, the annual minimum ptarmigan collision rate was found to be 5.3 birds km -¹ power line. The only parameter with a predictable effect on the probability of ptarmigan collisions was the height of the trees, as collision spots tended to be in places with low trees. Mortality due to power lines was, on average, at least 2.4 times higher than the annual ptarmigan hunting bag in the area during this 6-year study.
Biological Conservation, 2001
The number of ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus and L. mutus) killed along three power-line sections thr... more The number of ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus and L. mutus) killed along three power-line sections through colliding with the overhead wires was recorded over a 6-year period in a subalpine habitat in southern Norway. The effect of an experimental removal of the power-line earth wire (common neutral) was evaluated on one of the power-line sections, by comparing the number of mortalities found before removal with the number found afterwards. The two other power-line sections in the same area were used as control sections. The number of collisions was approximately halved after the lower earth wire was removed, thus confirming the expectation that there is a connection between the number of overhead wire levels (vertically) and the collision rate. The results from this and earlier studies indicate that a reduction in overhead wire levels has a general positive effect by reducing the collision rate. The power companies should develop alternative engineering designs and critically assess constructing power lines with continuous earth wires.
Dette er en ny, elektronisk serie fra 2005 som erstatter de tidligere seriene NINA Fagrapport, NI... more Dette er en ny, elektronisk serie fra 2005 som erstatter de tidligere seriene NINA Fagrapport, NINA Oppdragsmelding og NINA Project Report. Normalt er dette NINAs rapportering til oppdragsgiver etter gjennomført forsknings-, overvåkings-eller utredningsarbeid. I tillegg vil serien favne mye av instituttets øvrige rapportering, for eksempel fra seminarer og konferanser, resultater av eget forsknings-og utredningsarbeid og litteraturstudier. NINA Rapport kan også utgis på annet språk når det er hensiktsmessig.
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Papers by Kjetil Bevanger