Ep 21 - Mitigation Hierarchy - Case Study Mitigation Alternatives for Bats with Joana Ribeiro

Notas do episódio

Environmental Impact Assessment aims to ensure the suitability of projects such as wind farms (WF). The sustainability of a WF involves both financial balance and conservation of natural values. When impacts are considered negative, mitigation hierarchy is applied and incorporated into economic costs. WFs in migratory routes cannot avoid mortality but can reduce it. In this case study, adjusted and smart curtailment were considered the most effective options to decrease bat mortality, with adjusted curtailment being the least expensive option. Smart curtailment had the highest theoretical efficiency, but the highest production losses among alternatives. Deterrents were the least costly option. However, their specificity causes uncertainty in the expected results. Therefore, the final recommendation was to use adjusted curtailment.