Wind Energy – Safe Passage Birds
The turbines at Dutch offshore wind farms Borssele I, II, III and IV were stopped for four hours on Saturday 13 May, to give a large flock of migrating birds safe passage.
It is the first time that such a measure has been applied and is in line with the approach of the government and the offshore wind industry to put ecology and biodiversity at the centre of offshore wind farms, according to the Government of the Netherlands.
This first implementation of the measure is part of a pilot phase to ensure the system operates correctly and accurately.
The measure will officially take effect in the autumn of 2023 and will be continuously improved from then on.
Dutch Minister Rob Jetten said: “This is an international first, nowhere in the world are offshore wind farms stopped to protect birds during mass bird migration.”
