Page 21 - Infinity Power Report

Infinity Power 2023 Sustainability Report OUR ACTIVE TURBINE MANAGEMENT 21

PROGRAMME PROTECTS BIRDS

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Turbine blades have 1km 5km

coloured stripes to

improve visibility

Spotters see birds

around 1km away
Radar can
from one of the six
detect flocks up
Spotters radio operators in
vantage points
to 5km away
the turbine control room, who
on site
shut down specific turbines

whilst the birds pass through

MONITORING BIRDS AT WEST BAKR We’ve added coloured stripes to the turbine blades Together with the local authority, we’re also

to improve visibility, reducing the likelihood of working to implement a radar system that will
Local and migratory birds and bats can be
bird fatalities. We’ve also trained members of the help us to detect birds further away and with
affected by the construction and operation of
local community in avifauna monitoring at our more accuracy, giving the team more time to shut
wind farms. The Ras Ghareb region, home to
ornithological training centre, which we established down relevant turbines. These measures have
our West Bakr site, is transited by over 1.5 million
in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Environment helped us achieve a bird fatality rate much lower
migratory birds during spring and autumn each
and BirdLife International. The trained spotters look than would usually be expected. In 2023 there
year. Bird fatalities can occur when flocks of
for migrating birds that are approaching the wind were 12 bird fatalities at West Bakr, and while we
migrating birds cross through a wind farm.
farm and alert the turbine operations team to shut want to reduce this number to zero, we’re pleased

down specific turbines so the birds can fly safely that it’s around 100 fewer deaths than typically
We have an Active Turbine Management
through. For 2024 we will be allocating $70,000 expected from a similar-sized wind farm in a year.
Programme (ATMP) in place at the site which uses
towards capacity building for ornithologists
a combination of techniques to help the birds
and ATMP operators, skills that are in increasing
pass through safely.
demand with the growth of the region’s wind
energy industry.