Bat Protection System

Bat Protection System. Powered by Topwind.

At Enius, we understand that you want to be both a responsible and profitable wind farm owner. To achieve that, you need a solution that helps your turbines perform at their best while protecting local bat populations.

Increasingly strict ecological regulations can result in turbines being shut down unnecessarily, leading to lost production time and reduced returns. Balancing environmental responsibility with operational performance is becoming more important than ever.

Our Bat Protection System (BPS) monitors and detects bat activity with precision and controls turbines using dynamic curtailment schedules. By combining AI-powered call detection with advanced curtailment models, turbines are only stopped when necessary, based on representative observations and real-time weather data.

The result is greater energy production, effective bat protection and clear, transparent reporting for regulatory authorities.

Would you like to discuss your situation?

Who is it for?

For wind farm owners and operators

The Bat Protection System (BPS) has been developed for wind farm owners and operators who must comply with ecological regulations related to bat protection.

This is particularly relevant for turbines where permits include:

A monitoring requirement to record bat activity
A curtailment requirement to minimise bat fatalities

In some cases, these requirements apply to an entire wind farm. In others, they only apply to specific turbines, for example those located near woodland or other areas with increased bat activity.

Enius helps you meet these regulatory requirements while avoiding unnecessary downtime and maintaining the performance of your turbines.

Why?

The financial impact of bat-related curtailment

Curtailment due to bat activity is becoming increasingly costly. Rising imbalance prices and more efficient turbine technology mean that every hour of lost production has a greater financial impact than ever before.

Modern wind turbines generate significant amounts of energy even at relatively low wind speeds. As a result, bat-related shutdowns can lead to substantial revenue losses if they are not managed intelligently.

For example, a 3 MW turbine commissioned in 2019 typically lost around €2,500 per year due to curtailment at wind speeds below 5 m/s. For today’s 6–7 MW turbines, those losses can exceed €17,000 per year.

The Bat Protection System (BPS) helps minimise these losses by optimising bat-related curtailment. Through continuous monitoring and intelligent control, turbines are only stopped when necessary, helping you balance ecological responsibility with operational performance.

References:

Bat Protection System

Windpark Gesves (BE)

Windpark Gesves in Belgium, owned by Renner Energies, consists of six wind turbines with a capacity of 3.2 MW each, giving the wind farm a total capacity of 19.2 MW. In line with permit requirements, the BPS system is active on one of the turbines. Smart curtailment will be implemented in the near future to further optimise turbine downtime and operational performance.

Bat Protection System

Jaap Rodenburg | Almeerse Wind

Windpark Jaap Rodenburg, located near Almere Pampus, consists of 10 wind turbines: 8 owned by insurer ASR and 2 owned by the Almeerse Wind energy cooperative. The Topwind Bat Protection System (BPS) is active on all 10 turbines. This project is an example of blanket curtailment, where all turbines are managed according to the same bat protection strategy.

Bat Protection System

Eneco – Maasvlakte 2

Windpark Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam consists of 22 wind turbines and generates more than 400 GWh of renewable electricity each year. Topwind has installed ultrasonic microphones on two Vestas turbines to monitor bat activity. These sensors detect the presence of bats, after which the collected data is used to determine whether turbine curtailment can be further optimised.

Prevent unnecessary downtime and maximise the value of BPS:

The Bat Protection System combines effective bat protection with maximum performance for your wind farm. Your turbines actively contribute to ecological goals without compromising business results.
The system supports demonstrable compliance with applicable regulations, permit conditions and exemption requirements. Professional installation and robust hardware ensure reliable long-term operation, while a 24/7 dashboard provides continuous visibility and control over turbine performance and bat-related curtailment.
Additional features, such as time-slot management and acoustic data analysis, give you even greater control and optimisation opportunities.
The result is a complete solution that strengthens both the ecological and economic performance of your wind farm.

The optimal balance between ecology and returns
Full compliance with regulations and permit requirements
Reliable installation. Hassle-free operation.
Real-time visibility and control
Active contribution to biodiversity and corporate sustainability goals

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How does the Bat Protection System work?

Monitoring

Where permit conditions require bat monitoring, wind farm owners are obligated to record bat activity. This is achieved using an ultrasonic microphone installed in the nacelle and, for turbines exceeding 120 metres in height, an additional microphone positioned at blade-tip level.

All collected data is stored automatically and made remotely accessible. This eliminates the risk of data loss or delays and ensures accurate, continuous monitoring from day one.

Protection

The Bat Protection System offers two approaches for balancing bat protection and energy production.

Blanket Curtailment continuously monitors bat activity and stops turbines when predefined thresholds are exceeded.

Smart Curtailment combines fixed operating conditions with real-time bat activity data to determine when curtailment is required. This minimises unnecessary downtime while maintaining effective bat protection.

The result is a smarter balance between ecology, compliance and performance.

Blanket Curtailment

A proven and preventive curtailment strategy based on predefined operating conditions. Turbines are automatically stopped when conditions associated with increased bat activity occur, taking factors such as season, time of day, temperature, precipitation and wind speed into account.

Smart Curtailment

Blanket Curtailment enhanced with real-time bat activity detection. Ultrasonic microphones at blade-tip height enable more targeted turbine control, reducing unnecessary production losses while safeguarding bat populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is bat protection necessary for wind turbines?

As a densely populated country, the Netherlands must carefully balance the need for renewable energy with the protection of wildlife. While wind energy plays a key role in the energy transition, it is equally important to minimize its impact on bats and birds.

That is why ecological assessments are carried out before the development of every new wind farm, as required by the Dutch Nature Conservation Act. These studies may conclude that mitigation measures are needed to protect local bat populations during the operation of the wind farm.

Why must the BPS system be active by April 1?

The Bat Protection System (BPS) operates from April 1 to October 1. The April 1 start date is based on the seasonal behavior of bats, as most species emerge from hibernation between mid-March and mid-April.

After hibernation, bats have depleted much of their energy reserves and immediately begin searching for food, resulting in a significant increase in flight activity, including around wind turbines. To provide effective protection during this critical period, the BPS system should be operational by April 1.

As bats typically return to hibernation in October or November, the system can be switched off during the winter months.

Is a separate BPS required for each wind turbine?

That depends on the permit requirements. A Bat Protection System (BPS) can be applied to an entire wind farm or to individual turbines. In some cases, only a single turbine requires bat protection—for example, if it is located close to a wooded area where bats are active, while the other turbines do not pose a significant risk.

Is the BPS harmful to other wildlife or birds?

Is a BPS mandatory?

That depends on the location and the outcome of the ecological assessment. In some cases, the initial requirement is to monitor bat activity. Based on the results, the authorities will then determine whether curtailment measures are required for the following seasons.

It is also important to continue monitoring bat activity around your turbines over time. Patterns and activity levels can change, so there is little value in applying the same curtailment strategy year after year if conditions have evolved.

With the Enius Bat Protection System (BPS), you gain continuous insight into bat activity around your wind farm. This data enables informed discussions with the relevant authorities and supports a more tailored approach to curtailment. Depending on the circumstances, different curtailment strategies may be applied at different times of the year.

Does the BPS affect my energy production?

How does the BPS work?

Does Enius offer systems other than the BPS?

Absolutely. Enius develops a range of advanced solutions for wind turbines. Rather than relying on standard products, we focus on solutions that match the specific needs of each wind farm. As turbines continue to grow in size and complexity, we work closely with our customers to develop innovative technologies that improve both performance and safety.

Technical innovation is part of our DNA. We continuously look for smarter ways to optimize turbine operation, whether the challenge involves bats, ice, or aircraft.

Our solutions include:

BPS (Bat Protection System) – Uses advanced detection technology, including AI, to determine whether bats are actually present during prescribed curtailment periods. This helps reduce unnecessary downtime while protecting local bat populations.
IPS (Ice Protection System) – Detects and manages ice formation on turbine blades using high-precision sensors and camera technology. This enables informed decisions based on the actual conditions at each individual turbine.
ADLS (Aircraft Detection Lighting System) – Detects approaching aircraft and activates obstacle lighting only when required. This significantly increases lights-off time, reducing light pollution for the surrounding area while maintaining aviation safety.

Where technology meets performance

Getting the most from renewable energy requires more than standard solutions. Enius develops and delivers smart technologies that increase returns, reduce downtime and give operators greater control over their energy assets.

With the Ice Prevention System (IPS), wind farms can keep turbines safe and productive throughout the winter season. The Bat Protection System (BPS) helps balance ecological responsibility with operational performance. And the Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) reduces unnecessary light pollution by activating obstacle lighting only when aircraft are approaching.

To unlock flexibility in the energy market, we deliver Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that help capture value from market fluctuations and optimise energy usage. With Ruud.ai, we add artificial intelligence to IPS, ensuring turbines are only stopped when it is truly necessary.

These solutions are innovative, practical and built on years of experience in wind and solar energy. Every solution is designed with reliability, efficiency and long-term performance in mind.

With Enius, you gain a partner that turns complex challenges into smart solutions that deliver.

From Topwind to Enius

the history

Smart bat protection. Maximum performance.