Upcoming Research on Eagle Impact Minimization Technologies Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy

Mass. Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Friday, May 19, 2017 

This webinar was hosted by the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC).

NREL EagleThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently allocated more than $3 million across six institutions to support research into technologies to minimize eagle impacts from wind turbines, with the goal of facilitating the development of clean energy infrastructure that keeps wildlife safe. This webinar featured overviews of all selected research projects, including explorations into how to create more effective deterrents and testing and evaluation of existing and newly emerging detection and deterrent technologies.

Eagle Physiology and Behavior

  • Understanding the Golden Eagle sensory world to enhance detection and response to wind turbines
    • Presenters: Jeff Lucas and Esteban Fernandez-Juricic, Purdue University
    • Presentation
  • Detection and Perception of Sound by Eagles and Surrogate Raptors
    • Presenter: Jeffrey Marr, University of Minnesota
    • Presentation

Prototype Advancement through Laboratory and Small-Scale Field Testing

  • Radar Based Eagle Take Minimization System
  • A System for Eagle Detection, Deterrent and Collision Detection for Wind Turbines
    • Presenter: Roberto Albertani, Oregon State University
    • Presentation

Operational Demonstration and Validation

  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Detection and Deterrent System in Reducing Golden Eagle Fatalities at Operational Wind Facilities
    • Presenter: Taber Allison, American Wind Wildlife Institute
    • Presentation
  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Camera-Based Detection System to Support Informed Curtailment and Minimize Eagle Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities
    • Presenter: Isabel Gottlieb, American Wind Wildlife Institute
    • Presentation

Learn more about the projects: 3 Ways Energy Department Research Will Help Eagles Coexist with Wind Energy Deployment


The National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC), formed in 1994 and retired in 2020, was initiated and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); AWWI facilitated the NWCC from 2012 until 2020. Learn more.
Photo Credit: NREL Eagle Research, NREL