Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO341: Orniguard: Predicting birds & bats distributions under climate change to support sustainable wind farm planning.
Marta Guzmán, Technical Researcher, CIRCE Technology Center
Abstract
Collisions between birds, bats, and wind turbines represent a major challenge for wind farms, not only disrupting local ecosystems but also leading to severe regulatory and operational consequences. In several countries, collisions with protected bird and bat species can trigger turbine shutdowns lasting months, and repeated incidents may even require permanent removal of turbines. In addition to these risks, frequent stop–start cycles increase turbine fatigue, causing derating and lifetime performance losses that negatively impact production forecasts and asset management. Current approaches to estimating bird and bat presence rarely account for how climate change will alter species distribution in the coming decades. Shifts in migration routes and habitat ranges are already being observed, meaning that wind farms considered safe today may face unforeseen risks in the near future. To address this gap, we developed ORNIGUARD, a neural network–based predictive tool that forecasts future bird and bat presence under climate change scenarios. The model integrates meteorological parameters such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and land cover to anticipate bird and bat distribution with a focus on species most frequently involved in collisions. ORNIGUARD provides spatial heatmaps projecting up to 25 years into the future, matching the expected operational lifetime of wind farms. Delivered through an interactive visual interface, ORNIGUARD enables operators to explore annual distribution patterns, zoom into areas of interest, and analyze multiple species simultaneously. High-risk zones are highlighted in red, while safer areas appear in green, making the tool an intuitive support system for site planning and mitigation strategies. Importantly, ORNIGUARD also enhances long-term production accuracy, by allowing shutdowns and derating effects linked to bird and bat density to be factored into yield models. This dual benefit—protecting biodiversity while reducing operational and financial uncertainty—makes ORNIGUARD a valuable contribution to the sustainable growth of wind energy.
No recording available for this poster.
