Last week, our team participated in the 8th Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife Impacts (CWW2025) in Montpellier, France – the world’s largest event dedicated to the coexistence of wind energy and wildlife. Representatives from over 60 countries gathered there to share their knowledge, experiences, and innovative solutions concerning the impact of wind farms on biodiversity.
Tematic workshops
The first day was marked by intensive workshops, including:
– Collision Risk Modeling at onshore and offshore wind farms,
– seabird displacement effects in context of wind farm location,
– the state of science of observer-led and automatic shutdown on demand,
– mitigating the impact on migratory species through multi-stakeholder partnership,
– summary of 30 years of wind energy development – knowledge and prospects for further research,
– Natural Inclusive Design,
– innovations in nature compensation and stakeholder engagement strategies.
Thematic sessions and solutions from around the world
In the following days, numerous sessions were held presenting examples of activities and research from different continents. Particular attention was paid to the topic of “smart curtailment,” i.e., flexible turbine shutdowns in situations of increased bat activity. This approach, based on local conditions rather than rigid patterns, is also crucial in the context of the challenges currently faced by projects in Poland. Our company treats this topic as a priority.
Our team’s contribution
At the conference we presented a poster summarizing bird and bat collisions at 116 wind farms in Poland (nearly 1,000 turbines). Based on data from post-implementation reports from 2009–2024, we created a unique database that allows for the analysis of seasonality and species distribution of potential casualties. Our research fills an important gap in knowledge about the impact of wind energy in Poland. More information coming soon!
Networking and inspiration
The time between sessions provided an opportunity to establish new contacts and exchange experiences. We discussed solutions that could be implemented in Poland, both in the near future and in the longer term.
Excursions
After four days of intensive knowledge gathering and networking, participants visited the Pont de Gau ornithological park in the Camargue reserve – home to around 400 species of birds and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Encountering pink flamingos and semi-wild horses was an unforgettable experience.
The second trip provided an opportunity to take a closer look at the construction of the Golfe du Lion floating wind farm – from the construction site on the shore to the three wind turbines already in operation 16 km off the coast. It was also an excellent opportunity to observe seabirds, including the European storm petrel and the Scopoli’s shearwater.
Lesson learned
The conference not only filled us with enthusiasm, but above all provided us with practical solutions to support our team in its efforts to minimize the impact of wind energy on nature. Discussions on automatic turbine shutdown systems, standardization of monitoring, and wind farm design with biodiversity protection in mind clearly emphasized the importance of cooperation between scientists, investors, and us — consultants. Thanks to this commitment and exchange of experiences, we are gaining real tools to implement proven practices in Poland as well.