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In an effort to curb bird fatalities caused by offshore wind farms, the UK has initiated a groundbreaking trial—painting wind turbine blades black. This move follows vocal concerns from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who raised the issue with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in December.
Each year, thousands of seabirds inadvertently end up colliding with wind turbines, a problem set to intensify as the UK accelerates its renewable energy transition. Academic research suggests that some birds are drawn to the spinning blades, unknowingly placing themselves in harm’s way. Though exact mortality figures remain elusive, studies indicate that modifying turbine color may significantly reduce the risk.
On Monday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a four-year trial to assess the effectiveness of various paint schemes in preventing avian collisions. The pilot will test solid black turbines, striped designs, and UV-painted blades to determine the optimal solution for safeguarding bird populations.
The initiative couldn’t be more timely. Officials worry that the UK’s ambitious wind expansion plans, particularly in the North Sea, could disrupt critical foraging areas for seabirds. The experiment’s findings may prove instrumental in shaping future offshore wind projects.
The timing of the trial coincides with Sir Keir’s visit to Washington this Thursday, where he is set to meet Trump for the second time since taking office. Their previous conversation reportedly revolved heavily around the former U.S. president’s long-standing disdain for “windmills”—his preferred term for wind turbines.
Trump, who has opposed offshore wind farms since they were first proposed near his Aberdeen golf course in 2011, warned Starmer that expanding wind energy was a “very big mistake.” He also took issue with the UK’s windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas, urging the Prime Minister to abandon wind energy altogether.
“If you kill a bald eagle, they put you in jail for five years, but the windmills knock out thousands of them… nothing happens,” he said on the campaign trail in 2023.
Amid his critiques, Trump reportedly made light of the bird fatalities, quipping that scavenging coyotes had become so overweight from feasting on fallen seabirds that they might require weight loss medication. The remark and details of the December call sparked outrage within Trump’s inner circle, with some accusing Downing Street of leaking confidential discussions.
Trump’s skepticism of wind power is well documented. Over the years, he has claimed that turbines confuse whales, kill bald eagles, and even cause cancer through their noise. His opposition reached new heights last month when, upon returning to office, he signed an executive order halting all wind energy projects in the U.S.
Defra first suggested the wind farm pilot in 2023, when the department secured funding to “assess whether turbine blade painting is successful in reducing avian collision risk in an offshore wind context.”
Despite political theatrics, the UK’s turbine-painting initiative is rooted in scientific precedent. A Norwegian study previously found that painting one turbine blade black reduced bird collisions by 70%. If the UK’s trial yields similar results, it could pave the way for widespread adoption of painted turbines in offshore wind farms worldwide.
The next phase of the study involves controlled lab testing before experimental painting begins on operational turbines in 2027. Until then, the debate over wind energy’s impact—on birds, politics, and global policy—will likely continue to swirl.
A government spokesman said: “Our mission for clean homegrown power will make our country energy secure, protect consumers, create jobs and tackle the climate crisis. This will be delivered, in part, by rapidly increasing the UK’s offshore wind capacity.
“The UK is also home to many globally significant populations of seabirds. This pilot aims to test whether turbine blade painting will reduce bird collisions – helping ensure nature recovery goes hand-in-hand with making Britain a clean energy superpower.”
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