UK Launches Pilot to Paint Offshore Wind Turbines Black to Reduce Bird Collisions

The four-year trial aims to address avian mortality linked to wind farms while supporting the country's renewable energy expansion.

The UK government has initiated a pilot program to paint offshore wind turbine blades black, testing if it reduces bird collisions by making them more visible.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will conduct the trial through 2028, including laboratory and field testing of different paint designs like all-black, striped, and UV-painted blades.
A prior Norwegian study found that painting a single turbine blade black reduced bird fatalities by 70%, prompting interest in replicating the approach offshore.
The initiative aligns with the UK’s efforts to expand offshore wind capacity to meet clean energy goals while addressing concerns about seabird population impacts.
The trial comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized wind turbines for harming bird populations and has paused wind energy projects in the U.S.