State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (ROSATOM) is a diversified holding company that combines assets in the energy, mechanical engineering, and construction sectors. Its strategy is to develop low-carbon generation, including wind power. The Rosatom State Corporation is a national leader in electricity production (about 20% of total output) and ranks first in the world in terms of the largest portfolio of orders for the construction of nuclear power plants: 33 power units are at various stages of implementation in 10 countries. Rosatom is the only company in the world that has competencies in the entire technological chain of the nuclear fuel cycle, from the extraction of natural uranium to the final stage of the life cycle of nuclear facilities. Its scope of activity also includes the production of innovative nuclear and non-nuclear products, scientific research, development of the Northern Sea Route and environmental projects, including the creation of eco-technoparks and a state system for the management of hazardous industrial waste.
In 2024-2026 NovaWind company (Rosatom) plans to construct the largest wind farm with an installed capacity of 315 MW in the Republic of Dagestan - Novolaksk Wind Farm. The terriotry, where the the wind farm will be installed, is located near the flight zone of Caspian (Asian) migrating birds, moving from North to Souch and back along the Western coast of the Middle Caspian. This territory is also the habitat of the bat colonies.
For the Novolaksk Wind Fam project design the company decided to conduct monitoting of the avifauna within the boundaries of the "Sulak" site of 52,7 sq.km, located on the Caucasian plain.
Caspian institute of Biological Resources of the Dagestan federal research center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, that was involved in the project as an expert organization, conducts monitoring of the avifauna and develops recommendations on implementing evidence-based internventions on preventing and minimizing possible risks of loss or harm of birds and bats in the process of the wind farm operation, if these cases will be identified in the result of the monitoring.
Republic of Dagestan (Russian Federation)
Nuclear industry
E, G
2022-2023
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Efficient and safe energy generation with minimal damage to natural ecosystmes is a priority area of the NoveWind environmental policy. Wind farms may pose a potential threat to birds and bats in cases of serious mistakes in choice of the wind farm location, for example, if their installed in the migration routes. Negative impact can be minimized at the stage of the wind farm site selection: the best strategy is to install wind farms away from the places of attaction of birds (eating and nesting sites, resting places) and migration routes.
The research is conducted in order to preliminary assess the risks in terms of potential wind farm impact on the local avifauna.
Environment protection public organization: All-Russian Society for Environmental Protection; Bird Protection Union, etc.;
State Corporation "Rosatom";
Local communitites;
Local authorities.
The programme of scientific avifauna monitoring was developed before the start of the research. Based on this programme, the research is conducted in two phases:
Phase 1 - avifauna monitoring during autumn-winter migration period
From November 28 till December 31 2022. This phase was implemented by 27 expenditions, with consideration of the previously received monitoring data for the autumn period of 2022.
Phase 2 - avifauna monitoring during migration and nesting periods
From March till July 2023 - preparation of the final report and the set of further activities on mitigating risks for biodiversity conservation.
Each research phase consists of the following activities:
Data collection and preliminary analysis;
Expeditions for conducting monitoring;
Monitoring report preparation.
The following methods are used in the research: observation, photo-recording; measuring the flight altitude of birds using Carl Zeiss Sports Optics laser rangefinder; heterodyne ultrasound detectors Song Meter SM4BAT-FS Ultrasonic Bat Detector and Rec for the study of bat species.
The study recorded a wide variety of biological species:
8 species of bats;
86 species of birds from 14 orders (a total of 19,484 birds were recorded, of which 14 species of birds and 1 species of bats are listed in the Red Book of Russia and Dagestan).
The planned installation location of the wind farm does not intersect the main flight routes of migrating birds, which run several kilometers to the west and east of the wind farm site. In addition, the rotation altitude of the wind wheel blades, 46-150 meters, is outside the main flight zone of birds. In addition, based on the results of the study, the optimal design and location configuration of wind turbines (micrositing) was selected, taking into account the minimal impact on the natural environment.
Thus, the wind farm project implementation impact on the environment (avifauna and bats) can be assessed as an impact of low significance, with no expected negative impact on the natural environment; the condition of the ecosystem components will remain within acceptable limits.
National Goal "Comfortable and safe environment"
National Project "Ecology"
