Liepāja wind farm kills protected bats as operator faces penalties

More than 20 specially protected bats have died at the Rapsoil wind farm in Liepāja, exceeding the limit set in its environmental impact assessment, LSM reports. The Nature Conservation Agency has ordered the turbines stopped, but the company continues to operate them and denies wrongdoing.

The wind farm lies between the sea and the Tosmare Lake nature reserve, on an important bat migration route. The developer was warned about the risk before the project began, but received permission to build. The park began operating in test mode in August, and more than 20 dead protected bats were found in September. Experts say the actual number could be much higher, possibly reaching 100.

During testing, the company was required to monitor bats and birds. After the deaths were discovered, the Nature Conservation Agency ordered the turbines stopped and fined the company 1,000 euros. The agency says it has since checked weekly to see whether the order is being followed.

Rapsoil says it has not made its own decision to stop the turbines and has instead followed a procedure approved in advance by the environmental authority. The company disputes that it has broken the rules and says it believes the restriction applies only after the testing period ends.

The Nature Conservation Agency warns that if the problem is not resolved before spring, when intensive bat migration begins, the wind farm could be shut down completely and the company could be required to compensate for damage to nature.

A representative of Dabas eksperti, Jurģis Šuba, said the surrounding area contains several important bat hibernation sites and that bats also stay and feed there. He said wind turbines should not have been built there.

Tags: Liepāja, bats, wind energy