Study shows curtailment reduces bat deaths

A study by scientists from the Cesco, affiliated with the National Museum of Natural History and funded by the Ademe, found that temporarily stopping wind turbines at night can reduce bat mortality by over 80 percent. The research was published on October 19 in the Journal of Applied Ecology and is the largest of its kind at the European scale.

Methodology uses existing monitoring data

The research tested the effectiveness of "curtailment" — stopping wind turbines during certain nighttime hours when wind is weak and temperatures are mild. It used data from France’s national protocol for monitoring bat and bird mortality in wind farms, established in 2015 and updated in 2018.

Curtailment reduces bat deaths significantly

On wind farms where turbines were stopped at night, bat mortality dropped by five times. This reduction affected both species that live near forest edges, like pipistrelles, and those that fly over open meadows, such as the common noctule.

Experts stress adapting curtailment to local conditions

The National Museum of Natural History noted that the results highlight the effectiveness of night curtailment in reducing bat deaths. They emphasized the need to tailor curtailment parameters to local conditions and the species present at each wind farm. The museum also stressed the importance of choosing wind turbine locations that minimize impact on biodiversity from the start of project planning.