Bird-friendly innovation: How Spoor supported the deployment of Norway’s TetraSpar turbine

Spoor aims to transform how wind farm developers track and monitor bird activity, helping them understand and mitigate wind farms’ impact on biodiversity.

Our innovative technology enables developers to gather precise, site-specific data essential for measuring bird impacts and compiling robust reports. For the TetraSpar Demonstrator, a floating offshore wind turbine near Norway, Spoor provided expertise at every stage of its deployment, ensuring environmental compliance and effective monitoring solutions. Here’s a look at our role in this project.

The challenge

The TetraSpar turbine needed to meet regulatory requirements set by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway’s authority on energy and water resources. Testing the innovative TetraSpar Demonstrator, with its unique floating design, required comprehensive monitoring before and after installation. With a track record of successful collaboration, Spoor was selected to monitor bird activity, assess potential impacts on birdlife, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The solution

Offshore monitoring presents distinct challenges compared to onshore projects, where ornithologists can observe bird activity directly. Offshore environments demand additional resources and innovative methods to track wildlife effectively. Spoor addressed this need with a practical and efficient approach: installing cameras to conduct pre- and post-construction bird surveys.

The pre-construction bird survey

Before the TetraSpar Demonstrator’s installation, Spoor monitored bird behaviour using a camera mounted on an operational turbine in the test area. This setup transmitted video footage, enabling real-time tracking, identification, and analysis of bird activity around the site. During the turbine’s installation, Spoor continued to monitor bird behaviour as the structure was towed into position.

The post-construction bird survey

Following the installation of the TetraSpar turbine, a camera was positioned to monitor bird interactions continuously while the turbine operated. Over two years, the data collected offered invaluable insights into bird behaviour around the turbine.

The results

Spoor’s technology enabled experts to evaluate the impact of the TetraSpar turbine on the local birdlife, with a focus on species detection, bird activity, and collision avoidance.

Species detection

With support from Spoor’s ornithologists, multiple bird species were identified and documented. By analysing flight heights, Spoor was able to calculate the number of birds passing through potential collision zones.

Bird activity monitoring

Variations in bird activity were observed, influenced by factors like wind direction and speed. The data revealed higher activity during migration periods, providing developers with seasonal insights on bird patterns and productivity around the turbine.

Collision detection

During the operational phase, avoidance behaviour was documented, showing fewer birds flew within the rotor-swept area. Bird activity analysis across samples revealed no detected collisions, underscoring the turbine’s low impact on birdlife.

"Spoor’s system was a key enabler for the deployment of the TetraSpar turbine (USD 18 mil). Spoor’s solution accelerated the path to compliance and was definitely the best solution available for our project."
— Mads Arild Vedøy, METCentre

The reports generated ensured compliance with regulatory standards, while also providing developers with a comprehensive understanding of the TetraSpar turbine’s environmental impact.

Would you like to know more?

To explore the full case study, download our report which includes in-depth metrics, insights, comparative analyses and more.