Painting wind turbine blades

Should wind turbine blades be painted black?

In this publication synthesis, AWWI summarizes the results from a 2020 study in Norway that investigated the effect of painting one of three blades black on a sample of wind turbines as a strategy to increase the visibility of rotating blades to birds thereby reducing bird collision fatalities at wind energy facilities.

Can black paint reduce birds killed by wind turbines?

Photo by Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images Dousing just one of a wind turbine’s three blades in black paint dramatically reduced the number of birds the turbines killed in a multi-year study conducted in Norway, report Heather Richards and David Ferris for E&E News.

Does painting wind turbine blades reduce fatality rates in situ?

We tested the hypothesis that painting would increase the visibility of the blades, and that this would reduce fatality rates in situ, at the Smøla wind-power plant in Norway, using a Before–After–Control–Impact approach employing fatality searches.

Can painting a turbine blade Black prevent collisions?

This piece originally ran in the Summer 2024 issue as “Test Pattern.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today. Painting one turbine blade black has shown promise for preventing collisions. Now researchers are seeing if it can work in Wyoming.

Did black paint make a wind turbine more visible?

The theory goes that the black paint made the blades more visible, especially at the tips, essentially creating dark streaks in the sky that alerted incoming birds to the turbines and gave them time to change course. The results are promising, says Garry George, director of Audubon’s Clean Energy Initiative, but they’re also preliminary.

Could turbine blades get a fresh coat of paint?

If the test in Wyoming is as successful as the one in Norway, turbine blades across the country could soon get a fresh coat of paint. This piece originally ran in the Summer 2024 issue as “Test Pattern.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.