Wind power is often criticized for the harm wind turbines can cause to birds. Now the American Wind Energy Association has launched a campaign to counter claims that turbines are bird-grinders and that, in fact, wind can be beneficial to wildlife.

“Expanding the use of wind power improves environmental conditions for wildlife because wind power has none of the harmful emissions, water use, mining, drilling and hazardous waste of other energy sources”, said AWEA.

The organization said the industry is committed to reducing its “low impacts” on the environment that surrounds wind turbines and farms. Recently NBC’s Nightly News featured the efforts to repower older wind turbines in California to reduce their impacts on birds.

The video below shows experts from the energy and environmental sectors making the case for wind power in relation to wildlife. What do you think? What can the wind industry do to protect birds from colliding with turbines?

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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Windation Energy Systems has developed an urban-wind rooftop turbine designed for commercial and industrial buildings. Billed as “permit-ready” and “bird safe,” Windation’s 5 kW turbine resembles a commercial AC unit and leverages a proprietary vacuum system to purportedly amplify wind speed and boost energy output.  The company’s first installation is expected this quarter in Palo Alto, CA.

CleanTechies aimed four questions at CEO and founder Mark Sheikhrezai.

CleanTechies: Your statement on the Palo Alto project says it’s “permit-ready” and “bird-safe.”  What makes it so?

Mark Sheikhrezai: Windation develops “ducted wind systems,” enclosed machines that resemble a commercial air conditioning unit.  Each Windation unit measures 9×9x10 feet and weighs roughly 2,200 lbs, less than half an HVAC system.  This conventional size, shape, and weight enable Windation’s wind systems to meet established permitting and siting codes for rooftop appliances and uses the same method of installation.

By internally housing the rotating blades and generator, the threat to birds and other wildlife is eliminated.  In fact a number of safety, maintenance and other advantages result form the enclosed design, including minimizing noise, vibration, and aesthetics concerns.

CleanTechies: How will this be used at most businesses?

Mark Sheikhrezai: Windation’s Turbo WindMill 5000 can produce 10,000 kWh per year in average wind speeds of 7.2 m/s.  The energy generated will feed directly into the building’s electrical system and reduce the amount of energy consumed from the utility grid. If higher generation capacities are desired, multiple Turbo WindMills can be installed on individual buildings; only 30ft of open space is required.

CleanTechies: Tell us about the proprietary vacuum system. How does it work

Mark Sheikhrezai: Wind in city environments is more variable and turbulent than in rural settings, therefore an urban wind system must be equipped to handle incoming wind from all directions.  The technology behind Windation’s urban wind system was inspired by Persian wind-catcher buildings. The system captures and funnels turbulent wind in a smooth, counterclockwise stream.   A vortex is created beneath the internal turbine enabling a vacuum effect, pulling more wind into the frame and amplifying input loads.

Energy available in the wind is proportional to the cube of its speed. A basic principle that applies to all wind turbines is the faster the wind stream, the more energy will be generated.  While the cut-in speed for Windation’s unit is 2.7 m/s, the system is most effective operating within the range of 4.5 to 9 m/s.

CleanTechies: Is there an energy storage component to this? What kind of battery if there is?

Mark Sheikhrezai: The unit is tied to the utility grid.  Any additional energy generated that is not consumed on-site is fed to the grid.

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A colleague of mine said to me recently, “No energy is clean energy.”

Which got me thinking. Of course, Clean Coal comes to mind. And people love to say that “No coal is clean,” and “Clean Coal is an oxymoron.”

OK, OK. It’s not the best marketing term I’ve ever heard. There is a U.S. Department of Energy program that uses the term, and that program has funded gasification and carbon sequestration projects. So there is such a thing, whatever you want to call it. How about “Clean(er) Coal”?

Then I thought about wind. Big, majestic, white turbines … cutting up birds that fly into them. Whoops. That’s not very clean.

But you can lessen the impact of bird kills by making sure you don’t site turbines along migratory bird paths. Even the Audubon Society has come out in support of well-positioned wind.

Which brings me to radar — some bird-friendly technology now in the works.

Alternative Energy News reports that a new wind farm in Texas, operated by a Spanish firm, is using radar technology developed by a Florida firm called DeTect Inc. How’s that for collaboration?

The radar, much like a cop scanning the highway, looks for approaching birds, analyzes weather conditions and shuts down the turbines if necessary. The blades are reactivated once the flock has passed.

The radar is in use here, according to AEN, because the wind farm was constructed on the Central Flyway, a main route for migratory birds. Environmental groups are skeptical.

What do you think? Is using radar technology to save birds OK? Even if the technology is needed due to bad planning?

This radar could help spur more wind development and remove a barrier to breeze power. DeTect also makes bird deterrent devices for wind farms, including bioacoustics and propane cannons, according to the company’s Web site.

Bird kills are a controversial subject, so let’s hear it.

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