The company is planning to expand into the U.S. market, where the government has set a goal of reaching 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. U.S. regulations require wind farm operators to ensure their facilities do not violate legislation such as the Endangered Species Act or the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Spoor's technology could help wind farm developers to comply with these regulations and avoid delays or cancellations due to concerns about the impact on bird populations.
Key takeaways:
- Spoor, a startup based in Norway, is using AI and machine learning to help wind farms mitigate their impact on bird populations by detecting birds on video, recording their movement, and predicting their flight patterns.
- The software can help wind farms better react to bird migration patterns and can slow or even stop wind turbines when avian activity is expected to be heightened. It can also be used to evaluate potential sites for wind farms and their risk to local bird populations.
- Spoor recently raised a $4 million seed round from investors including Futurum Ventures, Nysnø, Superorganism, and Ørsted Ventures, the venture arm of one of the world’s largest offshore wind farm companies.
- The company plans to expand into the U.S., where the government has set a goal of reaching 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, and strict regulations require wind farms to monitor and mitigate their impact on bird populations, particularly endangered species.