IdentiFlight International announced that erneuerbare energien europa e3 GmbH (e3), has completed installation and commissioning of two IdentiFlight units at a project site in Northern Germany. The IdentiFlight system blends artificial intelligence with the high-precision optical technology to detect specific bird species and protect them from collisions with rotating wind turbine blades. This is the first European installation of the system.

The IdentiFlight units are in place to detect and identify red kites, a protected raptor species in the area.

"IdentiFlight's mission is to further penetration of renewable energy by minimizing wildlife impacts. In the United States, we started with the classification of Golden and Bald eagles to trigger shutdown of turbines putting these birds at risk. We are now expanding our species classification capabilities as we install in geographies with varied avian identification needs," said Tom Hiester, President of IdentiFlight International.

The initial two units in Germany are validating the accuracy and effectiveness at classifying red kites using a hybrid of machine vision and neural network technologies.

"Germany has aggressive wind energy goals, but the presence of protected birds like red kites or white-tailed eagles makes it very difficult to secure operational permits," said Jens Schoettler, CEO of e3. "To achieve wind energy policy goals, we need enabling technologies like IdentiFlight."

Schoettler explained, "After initially testing IdentiFlight tracking capabilities with a Quadrocopter drone and seeing favorable results, we installed IdentiFlight units at two potential wind farm sites with elevated red kite activity. Random data sampling is showing amazing results with red kite detection and we look forward to receiving the report from the ornithologists conducting an independent evaluation."

He added that starting October 2018, the IdentiFlight units will begin to detect and identify white-tailed eagles in addition to red kites.

"e3 has been working hard to collect the data needed to prove to the effectiveness of IdentiFlight for the German market. We couldn't have a better partner" Hiester said. "We look forward to seeing published test results in the near future."

How IdentiFlight Works

The IdentiFlight Aerial Detection System blends artificial intelligence with the high-precision optical technology to detect protected avian species. Automatic detection and species determination occur within seconds for birds flying within a one kilometer hemisphere around an IdentiFlight tower. If the bird's speed and flight path indicate risk of collision, an alert is generated to shut down that specific wind turbine. By providing highly targeted, informed and objective curtailment decisions, unnecessary and costly interruptions are avoided and conservation of protected species is achieved.

IdentiFlight | www.identiflight.com