Abstract

The study explores the amount of energy production by wind turbines in Turkey, in Europe, and in several other countries around the world. Annual production of electric energy through the wind turbines in Turkey is only 2493 MW, which accounts for only 5.8% of the total energy consumption in the country. We discussed the possibilities of how this amount can be increased to 10%, over the next 35 years.

Turkey, which has 502 bird species, is a part of the Palearctic, and is located on important bird migration routes. As a result, birds prefer the migration routes on the areas where the wind intensity is quite high. Certain areas in Turkey, such as Kapidagi peninsula, Iskenderun, Izmir, Belen, or Adana, are located on high wind intensity routes. Continuous monitoring programs for migratory bird species must be carried out for several years before the wind turbines are built on such areas.

In this work, we discussed the collision effects of wind turbines on birds and bats, based on information obtained from literature and field observations both in Turkey and in several other countries. For example, the wind turbines in four states in the eastern part of the United States have only 0.003% share for bird deaths in the region. Similarly, it was found that only 0.23 individual bats died per year by wind turbines in Brandenburg, Germany. Similarly, the death rates of birds and bats caused by wind turbines are quite low compared to other human factors in Turkey.

The available data indicate that death rates of birds and bats by wind turbines in relation to the other factors (e.g. by clashing up against glass windows of buildings) is quite low. Therefore, public oppositions against wind turbines are not well justified. Considering the ever lasting energy needs of mankind and environmental deterioration due fossil fuels and nuclear energy, establishment of wind turbines as green energy sources must be encouraged in appropriate places accomponied by bird observation programs along with recommended implementations proposed by ornitology reports.

Keywords

Author Keywords:Wind turbines; wind energy; bird migration; monitoring program; bird deaths; bat deaths

KeyWords Plus:BIRDS; RISK