EchoSense

EchoSense® is a USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Service) approved and highly effective bat smart curtailment technology that provides an alternative to the high energy losses associated with blanket curtailment. The system limits bat fatalities at wind farms while simultaneously reducing curtailment hours and associated energy losses when compared to a blanket curtailment strategy.

How EchoSense® works

EchoSense® works by combining SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), meteorological and acoustic data to curtail wind turbines when bats are present.

Development of the EchoSense® system began in 2018 when Natural Power gathered a team of bat biologists, technology experts, and software engineers to create a more effective way to protect bats while minimizing the impact of energy production. A deep understanding of bat behavior, wind farm operational controls and cybersecurity were essential to find a solution that presented projects with environmental and financial benefits.

How we tested EchoSense® to prove its effectiveness

Following a proof-of-concept deployment in 2019 supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), we worked with Alliant Energy to install and operate a full system from August to October 2020 at the English Farms wind farm in Iowa.

In 2020-21 we tested EchoSense® against minimal and blanket curtailment to prove it’s efficacy, and the results were compelling. Curtailment with EchoSense® resulted in an average reduction in energy loss of 40-60% compared to blanket curtailment. Read more here...

What are the benefits of EchoSense®?

It is an effective and approved alternative to blanket curtailment.
It returns 40 – 60% more energy than blanket curtailment without increased risk to bats.
It is superior to a modeling approach because it uses and reacts to real time data, rather than trying to predict when bats may be present.
It reduces stakeholder objections and regulator/agency concerns by demonstrating a commitment to reducing bat mortality. This speeds up permitting.
It demonstrates environmental stewardship and a commitment to producing wind energy in harmony with bats.
It is a nature-based solution that allows operators to measure their project’s impact on biodiversity.
Our dashboards provide real time data to support adaptive management of wind assets.