Taking immediate measures for the ASPIE in Evros and Rhodope with the aim of protecting birds and ecosystems

I. Existing situation:
In P.E. Evros and Rhodope have already installed and operate 28 ASPIE with 276 wind turbines, with a total power of 506.3 MW of which:
● 18 ASPIE with 170 wind turbines within Natura areas
● the total of 28 ASPIE with 266 wind turbines within SPP
● 8 ASPIE with 54 wind turbines within burned area

In the two P.E. have received AEPO or PPD (but have not yet been installed) 30 ASPIE with 221 wind turbines, with a total power of 863 MW of which:
● 9 ASPIE with 68 wind turbines within Natura areas
● 22 ASPIE with 123 wind turbines within SPP
● 8 ASPIE with 19 wind turbines within burned area

In addition to these, 38 ASPIE with 348 wind turbines with a total capacity of 1818.1 MW are in consultation for the approval of environmental licensing, of which:
● 8 ASPIE with 42 wind turbines within Natura areas
● 27 ASPIE with 238 wind turbines within SPP
● 11 ASPIE with 52 wind turbines within burned area

II. Incidents of impact:
To date, 494 incidents of bird and bat collisions with wind turbines have been recorded in Evros and Rhodope. Evros and Rhodope. From those:
• 34 are birds of prey (15 of them vultures)
• 170 are birds of other species
• 290 are bats

In addition to killing birds due to impact, wind turbines also have significant impacts (either individually or cumulatively) on other protected species (eg bats) and habitats.
The actual number of victims is clearly higher than those recorded, since as it has been proven in practice (satellite transmitters and surveys), in many cases the birds after the impact fall a long distance from the wind turbines, or in areas with dense vegetation, or are injured and until they die moving on the ground they are removed from the wind turbines or eaten by mammals in between surveys.

It is noted that three protected birds of prey (a black vulture, a falcon and a buzzard) collided with wind turbines that had an automated collision avoidance system installed and while the system detected through the cameras the approach of the birds, the wind turbines failed to stop in time resulting in the birds to bump into them. Taking into account incidents of collisions with wind turbines that had an automated collision avoidance system installed, as well as other incidents recorded abroad, and further the fact that the deterrent sounds they emit have been shown to displace birds from suitable areas, it is demonstrated that these systems are not fully effective and therefore cannot ensure the mitigation of impacts on protected species.

You can read the joint letter here

More information: Lefteris Kapsalis, scientific associate of the Biodiversity Protection Society of Thrace, [email protected]tel: 2554032210.