2020 autumn bird migration season comes to an end

November 10, 2020: Despite COVID-19 outbreak and challenging working conditions, Active Turbine Management Program (ATMP) team celebrates the end of 2020 autumn bird migration season and the mitigation of around million soaring birds in the Gulf of Suez (GoS) region. 

During the bird migration season, RCREEE welcomed 8 interns under the Junior Bird monitoring program. The interns were reallocated to bird monitoring locations to participate at conducting bird monitoring and assessments activities under the direct supervision of bird monitoring team leader. Remarkably, the fatality monitoring program, carried out in the RGWE wind farm, has recorded the lowest rates of soaring migratory birds regionally and internationally at the end of this season.

After a challenging year, ATMP has successfully completed the bird monitoring program, fatality monitoring program and shutdown on demand program for private sector wind energy power farms of a total capacity of 1500 MW.  The team also set a model for successful cooperation between all stakeholders including lead partner (Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) Lenders (International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)) and Consultants (Green Plus Environmental Solutions, ECO Consult, EcoConserv and Scientific Environmental Services Co.).

About Active Turbine Management Program (ATMP)

In 2015, RCREEE initiated the ATMP to determine the optimum wind turbines operations periods during the heavy bird migratory seasons. RCREEE has signed the program’s Protocol with three governmental institutions namely Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) and Egyptian Electricity Transmission Co. (EETC).  The program is divided into 3 main sub-programs; the Bird Monitoring Program, the Shutdown on Demand Program and the Fatality Monitoring Program that are pertinent for all Wind Power Plant Private Investments in the Gulf of Suez region.

ATMP offers great benefits to investors and developers interested in the Gulf of Suez Area. By developing Site Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), ATMP enhances projects’ bankability and environmental sustainability.

Today, ATMP manages 1515.5MW cumulative capacity of wind power plants in Gulf of Suez, Egypt. RCREEE has succeeded in signing cost-sharing agreements with 14 international wind developers for financing the environmental studies in GoS