WINGS: Reducing Wind Energy Impacts on Nocturnal Flyers
WINGS is an IPN-funded research project developing methods to monitor and reduce wind energy impacts on nocturnal birds and bats
What is WINGS
WINGS stands for Reducing Impacts of Wind Energy on Nocturnal Flyers. The project improves understanding of how night-active birds and bats interact with wind turbines and develops methods to reduce collision risk. By advancing evidence-based monitoring and mitigation approaches, WINGS contributes to improved decision-making in wind energy planning and operation while supporting biodiversity protection.
Project background
Understanding of nocturnal bird and bat activity around wind turbines remains limited, especially at night. This creates uncertainty in collision risk assessment. WINGS addresses this by developing and evaluating automated monitoring and mitigation approaches suited to operational wind farms.
Our goals
WINGS is structured around four research objectives addressing key knowledge gaps in night-time monitoring, collision risk reduction, and practical application in wind energy projects.
Develop and validate new night-time monitoring methods
Advance and evaluate automated detection techniques based on thermal and infrared technologies to improve monitoring accuracy for nocturnal birds and bats in wind energy environments.
Combine monitoring and mitigation
Study species behaviour and risk patterns
Translate findings into practical guidance
Research collaboration
WINGS is led by Spoor in collaboration with NMBU – Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The collaboration combines expertise in ecology, data science, and environmental engineering to investigate collision risk mechanisms and test monitoring and mitigation strategies in operational wind energy settings.
- Project period: 2025–2028
- Funding: NOK 18 million
- Project type: Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector
- Project number: 356017
- R&D partner: NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)
- Project lead: Spoor
Get in touch
For further information about WINGS, please contact Jonas Håkansson at jonas@spoor.ai or use the contact form provided.