LYNNTECH INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF161-023

Description

ABSTRACT: Lynntech aims to rationally design effective retrofits for photovoltaic (PV) installations located in the Pacific Flyway migratory corridor, based on what birds actually perceive.Vision in birds is entirely unlike our own, and what might seem very similar to us can be different to a bird species.In addition, variation amongst different birds is considerable--what is visible or obvious to one species may be barely perceptible by another.Lynntech is teaming with leading experts to develop an understanding of bird perception of PV environments, for example to estimate chromic and achromic contrast and sensitivity polarized reflectance.Phase I lays the groundwork towards understanding how/what aspects of the PV environment is noticeable, which is essential in identifying which types of PV site modifications / retrofits can influence bird behavior.We anticipate that important visual cues will be identified, to be leveraged when designing and testing retrofit approaches to reduce bird deaths.In Phase II and later work we test candidate retrofits for their effectiveness with appropriate behavioral experiments with live birds, before establishing the best retrofits to deploy in field tests.; BENEFIT: The solar power industry is growing in California, spurred by targets put into state law and massive commercial investment.Any technology that lowers risk in this industry is quite valuable.The solicitation is a call for retrofit technologies based on a rigorous understanding of how birds are attracted to PV facilities, but such an understanding could also have dramatic impact on the design of new PV panels as well.Solar panel / farm development are multi-billion dollar industries.Anticipated benefits include decreased losses of important protected bird species, and ultimately lower cost solar power for US consumers.