New R&D Radar Project: SENSE2SAVE

Due to the growing shift to renewable energy, the number of wind turbines has increased significantly in recent years. While this development is beneficial for the future of humanity, it complicates the living conditions for certain bird species, espacially for bats. As a result, fatal collisions between bats and the rotor blades of wind turbines are becoming common.

To resolve this dilemma between climate protection and species conservation, the project SENSE2SAVE was initiated. The goal of the project is the development of a sensor system that will be mounted onto the wind turbine's tower. With sensors like ultrasonic microphones and radar, this system is capable of sensing the movement of bats around the wind turbine. Finally, countermeasures can be implemented to protect the lives of the bats.

As radar specialists, IMST is taking over the task of designing the radar at 35 GHz for this project. The following two aspects must be considered in the development phase:

1. High Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): It takes some time to initiate the countermeasures when bats are detected. Therefore, the bats must be identified an an early stage, ideally when they are still more than 150 meters away. Additionaly, bats are not very reflective (low RCS) which underlines the importance of this point even more. Therefore the antenna as well as the circuit need to be optimized for high SNR.
2. Large Field of View (FOV): To cover a big area around the wind turbine, the antenna pattern is an important parameter for this application.

IMST is confident in overcoming these challenges and is looking forward to present a new radar demonstrator at 35 GHz.

Duration: December 2023 ... November 2026

Project partners:

• InnovationLab GmbH (Coordinator)
• IMST GmbH
• Institut für Tierökologie und Naturbildung GmbH
• University of Siegen
• Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg
• JUWI GmbH (associated partner)