While the benefits of adopting renewable energy sources like wind are clear, there are still environmental considerations that must be taken into account when implementing energy infrastructure. Off the coast in Suffolk, England, for instance, where energy company Ørsted has built an offshore wind farm, there have been concerns about how the turbines and wind systems will impact seabird populations, the kittiwake species in particular. Fortunately, measures are being taken to mitigate the potential impact on seabird life thanks to technologies like 3D printing.
The kittiwake, so named for its distinct call, is a coastal bird whose populations are vulnerable on the North Sea due to factors like industrial fishing and oceanographic changes. As part of the Development Consent Order for building the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm—slated to be the world’s largest windfarm when it is complete, with a capacity of 2.9 GW, enough to power 3 million UK homes—Danish energy firm Ørsted has committed to building three artificial nesting stations for the bird species off the Suffolk coast. In order to encourage kittiwakes to use the nesting structures, Ørsted has enlisted the help of UK-based service bureau 3D Printing Cornwall to design and 3D print kittiwake models.
The seabird 3D prints, made from recycled plastic, are meant to closely resemble real kittiwake birds, and are being placed on the nesting structures to indicate to real birds that they are safe. According to 3D Printing Cornwall, this accuracy was achieved by 3D scanning a taxidermy kittiwake to ensure that its “positioning, proportions and texture were attractive to real birds.”
The 3D printed kittiwake have been deployed to the coastal nesting structures and have already proven effective, as real birds have used the structures to build their nests and hatch their eggs. “We’re grateful to have been part of this process and look forward to seeing how 3D printing continues to revolutionize and foster creative solutions for conservation and beyond,” shared Michael Hunt, 3D Printing Consultant at 3D Printing Cornwall. “This summer, a kittiwake pair nested next to our models and produced a chick, providing an indication of their success. Great advancements in 3D printing are on the horizon, and we are excited to be at the cutting edge of these innovations.”
