Reducing emissions has become critical for businesses as the world moves towards renewable energy to address climate change, with wind and solar farms emerging as important sustainable power sources. Despite contributing to environmental benefits, these developments pose a threat to species, especially native birds and bats.

Thoughtful planning and innovative solutions are required to balance the benefits of renewable energy infrastructure and the need for conservation.

Wind turbines, by virtue of their size and rotating blades, pose a risk to native bird and bat species. Migratory birds, raptors, and other species may collide with turbine blades, with bats facing unique dangers from the sudden pressure changes caused by the rotating blades.

As part of our adaptive management strategy, we installed bat detection equipment in February 2024 to monitor native bat species. These detectors are critical for understanding bat ecology and informing conservation efforts.

In order to reduce the risk of wildlife interactions, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standards recommend keeping a minimum of 200–300 metres between wind turbines. We followed the IUCN criteria while designing the wind farm and chose to space the turbines more than 450 metres apart to accommodate bat and bird movement between turbines. The 210metre tall turbines also include elements in their design that enable remote control operation, direction changes to maximise wind channels, and independent speed control when needed.

Extensive research has been conducted on ways to mitigate wildlife interactions, such as installing bat deterrents with devices that emit sonic and ultrasonic sound, installing radar systems that trigger blade speed variations, changing the globe colour of lighting towers, and mapping migration patterns of key local populations.

We are creating a data base which includes data from noise detectors, on ground surveys and desktop research into speciation and best practice methodologies of emerging technologies.

Balancing the benefits of renewable energy with wildlife conservation demands ongoing collaborative research among energy companies, conservationists, and researchers. We have exemplified this approach by partnering with researchers, neighbouring mines, and government regulators to develop innovative solutions that minimise biodiversity impacts.

Research efforts continue to work towards enhancing the renewable energy sector, whilst addressing the impacts of wind farms on birds and bats as a multifaceted challenge that necessitates cooperation, research, and adaptive management.