BioTherm’s Excelsior wind farm works for bird conservation

29th March 2021

By: Marleny Arnoldi

Deputy Editor Online

     

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Working in collaboration with conservation organisations, BioTherm Energy’s Excelsior wind energy facility, in the Western Cape, is pioneering the wind industry’s approach to conserving avifauna.

The programmes that are being implemented go beyond looking at the potential impact of the wind farm on birds through mitigation, but are also aimed at a net gain in priority species, including Cape Vulture, Black Harrier, Verreaux’s Eagle and Martial Eagle. 

The on site mitigation programme to avoid losses includes an industry-first implementation of an observer-led Shut Down on Demand (SDOD) system for priority species.

The SDOD system is implemented through notification by a team of bird monitors to the wind farm’s on-site operations room, where individual wind turbines are switched off when the priority species are in the vicinity, and switched on again once the bird has passed by.

This SDOD system, which was piloted in August 2020 before being fully implemented, has, to date, resulted in no less than 60 SDODs being successfully called for.

“This direct mitigation through shutdowns has resulted in zero loss of priority species to date, meaning that we can proudly say that there have been no turbine collision fatalities so far, and we expect the same into the future,” says BioTherm Energy sustainability director Libby Hirshon.

Additionally, the programme provides local job creation. The eight biodiversity monitors, who are predominately female, in addition to their supervisor, have been recruited from the surrounding communities. 

The team of monitors are sited at three vantage points, seven days a week, and are responsible for the implementation of this rigorous programme through active communication with the operators.

BioTherm Energy also recognises that, in the Overberg region, where the Excelsior wind facility is situated, many bird species are also susceptible to powerline collisions, which has been well documented by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).

This poses a significantly greater threat to certain species than wind turbines, including South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane.

“We approached the trust to discuss potential conservation initiatives, and the result was the rollout of over 4 000 bird flight diverters to mitigate avifauna fatalities along high-risk powerlines near, but not directly associated with, our project.

“We believe this initiative will prevent needless collisions by Blue Cranes, Cape Vultures and a host of other raptors. We have no doubt that, through this kind of collaboration, we can create innovative solutions where both conservation and renewable energy can coexist and even enhance each other," comments EWT wildlife and energy programme manager Lourens Leeuwner.  

"It is extremely encouraging to see an independent power producer actively seeking opportunities to conserve priority bird species in the regions surrounding their facilities. BioTherm Energy is actively engaging with project partners and looking to bolster conservation initiatives around their wind energy facilities.”

The wind farm’s off-site conservation activities also include work with the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust to provide funding for the securing of easements for the protection of the Renosterveld, which is a critical habitat for the Black Harrier.

The 33 MW Excelsior wind energy facility, in the Western Cape, successfully achieved its commercial operations on December 23 last year, adding to the already achieved commercial operations of the 132 MW combined capacity of the solar plants, Aggeneys and Konkoonsies II, earlier in the year.

The wind farm is built on 2 300 ha of land in Swellendam, an area known as one of the largest agricultural producing areas in the country. By the very nature of wind power, over 90% of the land on the site will continue to yield agricultural crops, as well as sustain livestock farming.

 

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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