New student project concludes: Bird Collisions Can Be Prevented Without Economic Compromise

This summer, students at Source Galileo were given an important task: to develop a profitability model for a floating offshore wind farm that takes environmental measures into account. Tiril Vestrheim took on the biological aspect and identified relevant measures, Maria Carlsen was responsible for production calculations, and Ingemar Hovland handled the economic aspects.

They developed a profitability model where one can implement the desired measures. The students examined how the future cash flow of the offshore wind facility is affected by the implementation of various environmental measures—from Nature Inclusive Design (NID) for fish to kittiwake hotels. Most of the measures had little impact on economic profitability while having a positive effect on the environment.

Important Insights for Multiple Stakeholders

Among the identified environmental measures, the summer students focused on methods to prevent bird collisions. It is a widespread myth that developers of offshore wind projects do not care about the environment or wildlife. Many believe that the consideration for bird life is often overlooked, but the students' work now shows that it is entirely possible to implement measures that reduce bird collisions without compromising profitability.

-We found that several measures, such as painting the rotor blades to make them more visible to birds, as well as regulating production during periods of high bird migration, will have minimal impact on the profitability of the offshore wind facility,  says Maria Carlsen, who studies Energy and Environment at NTNU.

Guidance from companies like Multiconsult, METCentre, and Ishavskraft has strengthened the summer project's potential to set a new standard for how environmental considerations can be integrated into offshore wind projects.

Finance student at NHH, Ingemar Hovland, finds it particularly rewarding to see how their findings can have significance for multiple stakeholders. “Being able to balance economic gain with environmental awareness is an important topic for many,” says Hovland.

To Be Tested in Practice

This summer’s project has demonstrated how future employees, through their efforts and initiatives, can help solve complex challenges in the offshore wind industry. The theory will first be tested on GoliatVIND, a demonstration project for floating offshore wind in the Barents Sea, before the measures are potentially rolled out on a large scale at Utsira Nord and other major offshore wind projects. Among the measures is the installation of cameras to monitor bird activity in the area. This will provide concrete data on how bird life is affected and how effective the measures are.

-It is very encouraging for developers to see that environmental measures do not threaten the business model. This makes it much easier to implement such solutions in practice,” says Magnus Vestrheim, project manager at Source Galileo Norway.

Valuable Learning

As summer comes to an end, the Sildikon Valley project will conclude on Friday. Tiril Vestrheim, who recently completed her master's thesis in fisheries biology and management at UiB, reflects on what she has learned.

-Sustainable solutions that protect the ecosystem are crucial. This summer has shown me how such measures can be integrated into larger projects without economic compromise. This is something I will take with me going forward, says Vestrheim.