ENVIRONMENT: Bird protection with anti-aircraft technology

ProTecBird enables successful protection of the red kite at wind turbines - Rheinmetall provides expertise from the field of air defense for the detection of protected bird species.

With AI and sensors from ProTecBird and software from the military sector, Rheinmetall and ProTecBird aim to ensure the protection of the red kite at wind turbines and at the same time make a contribution to the energy transition. Both companies have now announced the successful demonstration of the effectiveness of the AVES Wind anti-collision system for the protection of the red kite at wind turbines, which was developed by ProTecBird in collaboration with Rheinmetall technology. The young technology startup from Husum, which focuses on the development and production of cost-effective and species-specific anti-collision systems, has now, in partnership with Rheinmetall, overcome a significant hurdle for the energy transition in Germany.

Developing effective anti-collision systems (AKS) has been one of the biggest challenges in operating wind farms in areas with wind-sensitive bird species. The balance between technical feasibility and reliable species protection is crucial for the planning processes in wind farm construction. ProTecBird has solved this problem with its AI-based anti-collision system AVES Wind by defining and demonstrating for the first time natural science, economic, and technical requirements for an anti-collision system. In this way, the system offers an alternative to blanket shutdown requirements by providing a tailored solution for wind park operators through species- and situation-dependent short shutdowns.

Rheinmetall's Multi Mode Tracker detects projectiles based on pixel changes on the horizon

Schleswig-Holstein, as one of the wind energy-strongest federal states, is a pioneer in establishing forward-looking standards for anti-collision systems and their integration into approval procedures. In September 2022, at the request of the Ministry of Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment, and Nature (MEKUN), a committee was convened to develop a framework for the validation of AKS under the leadership of the State Environment Agency of Schleswig-Holstein (LfU). This committee, consisting of a consulting team (TÜV Nord, the Office for Biostatistics), AKS and wind energy manufacturers, as well as representatives from nature conservation associations and wind energy associations, developed a comprehensive validation framework for AKS by the end of 2023. On August 8, 2024, Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment, and Nature of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, announced the introduction of the nationally first validation framework for anti-collision systems. The framework is currently being evaluated by other federal states with the aim of adopting it in their own areas of responsibility.

The AVES Wind system from ProTecBird was tested between July and September 2023 in an existing wind farm according to the requirements of the specialist convention proposal "Validation Framework for Anti-Collision Systems" (MEKUN 2024). A total of 25 recording days evaluated a total of 237 red kite flight sequences at different locations: AVES Wind captures, detects, and protects the red kite in accordance with the requirements of the specialist convention proposal (MEKUN 2024), thereby fully meeting the species protection requirements and the protective effect on the red kite by the anti-collision system from ProTecBird.

"We are delighted with the recognition of our AVES Wind anti-collision system and proud to contribute to the energy transition," commented Thorsten Heinzen, CEO of ProTecBird. "The collaboration with the relevant stakeholders in Schleswig-Holstein was crucial for this breakthrough. The fact that ProTecBird was the first company to go through and pass the regulatory defined validation framework underscores the company's innovative power and commitment. ProTecBird has achieved a technological breakthrough with its AVES Wind anti-collision system that can be seen as disruptive to the wind energy industry," Thorsten Heinzen continued. "We have created a clever connected system that leverages the existing wind park infrastructure and further improves the effectiveness and sustainability of wind energy generation."

The solution of the AI-based anti-collision system AVES Wind is based on software developed by Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH, which was originally programmed for air defense in the military sector and is used worldwide.

Rheinmetall uses an established software (Multi Mode Tracker) that can detect and identify missiles based on pixel changes on the horizon. By further developing the software by ProTecBird and using the newly developed AI, different bird species, such as the protected red kite, can now be reliably detected and tracked by the sensor technology of the systems. As a result, automated shutdown commands are sent to wind turbines, effectively preventing collisions between the animals and the rotor blades when the distance between the bird and the wind turbine is predefined.

"The applications go far beyond the original military domain," says Uwe Lindenau, Sales Manager Mission Systems at Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH. "The cooperation between Rheinmetall and ProTecBird is unique worldwide. With our software and the technical know-how of ProTecBird, not only unique protected birds such as the red kite or the white-tailed eagle can be protected. The benefits for flight safety in terms of bird strikes on engines and aircraft structures in aviation are also significant," Lindenau continues.

For Rheinmetall, the demonstration of the system's effectiveness at wind turbines is a successful example of the company's involvement in environmental protection.

As a technology startup, ProTecBird is committed to advancing its research and development. The company is currently working to expand its technology to other animal species, such as real-time detection of bats, to ensure comprehensive wildlife protection. In addition, ProTecBird aims to expand its partnerships to promote the use of renewable energy not only in Germany but worldwide.

About ProTecBird

ProTecBird is a German AI technology company specializing in bird-related environmental protection, combining ornithological expertise with technical know-how to serve a rapidly growing market. The technology startup was founded in Husum in November 2021 and offers innovative product solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Renewable Energy, Aviation, and Industrial sectors. In 2024, ProTecBird has successfully transitioned from a startup to a scale-up company, laying the foundations for rapid growth with a rapidly growing team of 17 highly qualified permanent employees and 30 freelancers.