Currently Known Characteristics of Bat Species Represented in Hamburg in Respect of Wind Turbine Casualties

[EN] Bats are animals protected by the law, however many become wind turbine related casualties. To estimate the risk from wind turbines, a systematic literature research has been conducted. A total of 6 groups of bat characteristics have been chosen as relevant for the risk estimation: body dimensions, flight height, flight style and speed, foraging space and distance, response to light, and acoustical characteristics of bat calls. Their values have been presented in this paper for the 7 bat species that are represented in the wind park near Hamburg, Germany. Analyzing the values of the known bat characteristics, conclusions about the species with high collision risk possibility have been drawn. However, these conclusions have not always been supported by the statistics of carcass findings at wind parks across Germany, which raises questions, for instance about the degree of influence of certain characteristics above others, and indicates a need for further research.Krapivnitckaia, P.; Kunz, VD.; Floeter, C. (2019). Currently Known Characteristics of Bat Species Represented in Hamburg in Respect of Wind Turbine Casualties. En Proceedings 5th CARPE Conference: Horizon Europe and beyond. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 138-145. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARPE2019.2019.10543OCS13814

Analytical volume model for optimized spatial radar bat detection in onshore wind parks

To develop mitigation measures for the protection of bats in close proximity to onshore wind turbines, new detection techniques covering large-scale environments and techniques, which are able to track individuals are required. Radar based observations, successfully applied in ornithological studies, offer a promising potential, but come with challenges regarding the comparability of measurements and noise interference (ground clutter) from objects within detection range. This paper presents improvements of a commercially available inexpensive pulse radar for 3D spatial detection of bat-sized objects in onshore wind parks. A new analytical spatial detection volume model is presented incorporating calibrated radar data and landscape parameters such as clutter. Computer simulation programs to process the analytical spatial detection volume model were developed. For model calibration, the minimum signal power of the radar was experimentally determined with the radar cross section (RCS) of an artificial bat (similar to Nyctalus noctula), resulting in a maximum detection range of 800 m and a corresponding RCS of 12.7 cm2. Additionally, the spatial volume for radar detection was optimized with a clutter shielding fence (CSF). Adjusting the volume model by incorporating a theoretical model of the CSF, an extension of the detection volume by a factor of 2.5 was achieved, while the total volume of a 105o horizontal angular radar image section yields 0.0105 km3. Extrapolation and comparison with state-of-the-art acoustic bat detection result in a 270 times larger volume, confirming the large-scale detection capabilities of the pulse radar

The accessibility of data on environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals : Is the marketing authorisation procedure in conflict with the international right of access to environmental information?

For a large part of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) available on the market, there is no or no comprehensive environmental risk assessment (ERA) existent/available. Existing ERAs are, moreover, treated as commercially/industrial confidential information (CCI) and the information content on the ERAs contained in the Public Assessment Reports is very limited. Thus, neither the public can inform itself sufficient nor environmental authorities can use the ERAs to compile environmental quality standards. Environmental information law, on the other hand, requires the general accessibility of environmental information. Against this background, this investigation examines the following questions in conformity with the environmental information law: Which environmental information on pharmaceuticals is generated in the marketing authorisation? Which of the environmental information generated in the marketing authorisation is available to the public? Does the environmental information on pharmaceuticals concern CCI