Abstract Wind energy production is growing rapidly worldwide in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, wind energy production is not environmentally neutral. Negative impacts on volant animals, such as bats, include fatalities at turbines and habitat loss due to land-use change and displacement. Siting turbines away from ecologically sensitive areas and implementing measures to reduce fatalities are critical to protecting bat populations. Restricting turbine operations during periods of high bat activity is the most effective form of mitigation currently available to reduce fatalities. Compensating for habitat loss and offsetting mortality are not often practiced, because meaningful offsets are lacking. Legal frameworks to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of wind energy on bats are absent in most countries, especially in emerging markets. Therefore, governments and lending institutions are key in reconciling wind energy production with biodiversity goals by requiring sufficient environmental standards for wind energy projects.

Toward solving the global green–green dilemma between wind energy production and bat conservation

Current state of energy in Africa

Veterinary Aspects of Forensic Medicine: Wild Animals – Wildlife Forensic Pathology

Abstract Wind energy development in Africa necessitates understanding its impact on bat populations, particularly bats in the family Pteropodidae, which are ecologically important but understudied in this context. I assessed whether wind turbine‐related mortality is likely to cause population‐level impacts on Egyptian fruit bat ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ) and Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat ( Epomophorus wahlbergi ) in South Africa, using a Leslie matrix model and potential biological removal (PBR). The matrix model showed population growth for both species, even under low and medium fatality scenarios. Under a high fatality scenario, the probability of population decline reached 60% for Egyptian fruit bat and 72.3% for Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat, with both species showing a reduction in population size over 100 years. Quasi‐extinction risk increased with rising fatality, reaching 21–23% at a 1% annual fatality rate. The PBR results also showed resilience at low to medium fatality levels, but a high fatality scenario could exceed sustainable removal thresholds by 636% for Egyptian fruit bat and 861% for Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat under precautionary management. The findings indicate that while these fruit bat populations may withstand low to medium levels of turbine‐related mortality, increasing fatalities pose a significant risk of long‐term population decline. This underscores the need for robust monitoring and a comprehensive understanding of cumulative impacts to align wind energy expansion with biodiversity conservation objectives in Africa. The findings support species‐specific, population‐based thresholds that reflect demographic sensitivity and spatial exposure. This approach can guide evidence‐based regulation and conservation in wind energy planning for African bats. 

Population‐level impacts of wind energy for two fruit bat species in South Africa

The transition to mitigate climate change necessitates a rapid and global diffusion of renewable energy but this should not jeopardise the need to meet similarly important targets for biodiversity. Wind energy is a leading cause of bat mortality globally, yet little is known about the impacts to bats in Africa. I studied these impacts in South Africa to enhance knowledge on wind energy impacts on African bats. I reviewed data from 59 studies published in scientific journals and technical reports of operational monitoring of bat fatalities at wind turbines. Bat fatalities occurred at all operating wind energy facilities in South Africa. Tadarida aegyptiaca accounted for the majority of carcasses, followed by Neoromicia capensis and Miniopterus natalensis. The majority of fatalities were of non-migratory species and occurred between February and April although bats were killed in all months. Bat fatality differed between wind energy facilities in terms of observed fatality/year, estimated fatality/year and estimated fatality/MW/year but these differences could not be explained by broad scale vegetation patterns. Total estimated bat fatality between 2011 and 2020 was 12,601 bats. Mean fatality/MW/year was 2.8 bats. I estimate that between 2013 and 2050, a minimum of 996,974 bats may be killed at South African wind energy facilities. My results present the first estimates of the scale of potential wind energy impacts to bats in South Africa and the African continent. 

Current State of Knowledge of Wind Energy Impacts on Bats in South Africa

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Current State of Knowledge of Wind Energy Impacts on Bats in South Africa