- The project run by Enel Green Power Spain, Endesa's renewable subsidiary, increases visibility amongst birds at the Fuencaliente wind farm on the island of La Palma
- The beam of light, respectful of the so-called "Sky Law", does not surpass the horizon and ends right at the last wind turbine.
Enel Green Power España (EGPE), Endesa's renewable subsidiary, recently put a laser lighting system into operation at the Fuencaliente wind farm in La Palma, a wind farm set up by Eólicas de Fuencaliente, S.A., a company in which the Fuencaliente Local Council also has a stake. This R&D&I project has become a global pioneer in terms of the use of this technology at a renewable energy facility. The aim is for this beam of laser light, which does not surpass the horizon, thus respecting the so-called "Sky Law", that the Scopoli's shearwater that nests on the island of La Palma every spring can detect the light signal and modify its flight path. The objective of this project, which is being supervised by the Government of the Canary Islands, is to protect birds on their night flights.
The Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris Diomedea Borealis) is a species of bird native to the Atlantic. This nocturnal seabird spends most of the year at sea and returns to land to nest. The species is included in the List of Wild Species subject to Special Protection (Royal Decree 139/2011) and in the Canary Islands Catalogue of Protected Species (Law 4/2010).
In fact, residents of the Canary Islands have a very emotional link to shearwaters. And, during breeding season, its high guttural and nasal sounds can often be heard. They make their nests in the high areas of cliffs and caves to avoid attracting the attention of predators, mainly cats and rats. Shearwater chicks are fed by both parents for 90 days and once this period comes to an end, they are abandoned by their parents. At this time, they must learn to go it alone, taking to the skies and looking for their own food.
The innovative system set up by Endesa to protect the shearwaters that settle on La Palma during breeding season has been designed using a laser lighting mechanism installed on the wind farm's weather tower, with the beam of light being directed towards the shaft of the wind turbine closest to the sea. The aim of this is to help birds on their approach to the area around the coast where the wind farm located as they arrive from the sea to nest.
In recent years, Enel Green Power has studied the behaviour of birds in the south of the island, in particular, species that arrive by sea to nest between May and September through the implementation of different projects. The flight paths of the Scopoli's shearwater have even been tracked.
Enel Green Power has chosen to test this laser lighting solution following very positive preliminary results during tests at other types of facilities with other shearwater species on the island of Hawaii and other experiences to ward off wildlife in crop fields. In the case of La Palma, this project has been launched in collaboration with consultancy firm, Alenta Medioambiente.
Enel Green Power's representative in the Canary Islands, Manuel Ortega, explained that "the system is automatically enabled at 9.00 p.m. and disabled at 7.00 a.m. the following day, all using a pre-defined pattern. The beam of light does not surpass the horizon and ends right at the wind farm's last turbine, as planned and requested by the different administrations involved". Furthermore, follow-up work at the Fuencaliente wind farm will continue.
The wind farm on La Palma has a nominal installed capacity of 22.5 MW [megawatts] and consists of 3 Enercon E-44 wind turbines, with a hub height of 56 metres; in 2019, it added an annual production of 11,027 MWh [megawatt hours].
Endesa has 15 wind farms in the Canary Islands, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power España (EGPE), together with different public and private institutions on the islands, which boast an installed capacity of 63.7 MW. In Spain, Endesa currently manages a renewable capacity of more than 7,507 MW in Spain through EGPE. Of this figure, 4,711 MW correspond to conventional hydroelectric generation; and the remaining 2,796 MW to wind energy (2,362 MW), solar energy (352 MW), small hydro (79 MW) and other renewable sources (3 MW).
Enel Green Power, a part of the Enel Group, is engaged in the development and operation of renewable energy production worldwide, with a presence in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in green energy and has installed capacity of around 53.2 GW with a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. It is spearheading the integration of innovative technology in its renewable energy plants.