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ProBat

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What is ProBat?

ProBat is a software tool used to calculate cut-in wind speeds for wind turbines, which serve to protect bats.

ProBat was originally developed by the University of Erlangen. Research carried out within the RENEBAT projects (RENEBAT I to III), was fundamental for the development of this software. In these projects, comprehensive investigations were carried out on measures to mitigate bat fatalities at wind turbines. Based on the investigations, estimation models for bat activity were established and tested.

ProBat offers planners, experts and approval authorities a simple way to apply the RENEBAT research results, to estimate and minimize the fatality risk for bats at wind turbines.
Operational management of a wind turbine when coordinated with ProBat enables a more efficient operation, compared to operation using generalized starting and shut-down (curtailment) requirements.


What does OekoFor do?

We are continuously enhancing and improving ProBat. The new ProBat version 7.0 went online on 01.12.2020. It was created using the programming language R and the package Shiny package and is completely web-based. As such ProBat can be operated using any internet browser and there is no need to install the software on your computer. Data is only stored locally via download to your own PC.

In addition to a completely new layout, the newest ProBat app is also equipped with many new or improved features, including the integration of additional natural areas, new visualisations and extended reporting.

Within the ProBat project OekoFor has also developed a web app (“ProBat-Inspector”), with which it is possible to verify the execution of curtailments.


  • The clear and intuitive interface of the new ProBat7 app.
    © OekoFor GbR
  • The acoustically recorded bat activity is clearly displayed in the ProBat app in a night activity plot.
    © OekoFor GbR
  • Graphs showing the distribution of bat activity against the parameters: wind speed, temperature, time of night, time of year and, where applicable, precipitation intensity provide good insight into the situation at the site, they also allow further conclusions about data quality.
    © OekoFor GbR
  • Activity in the rotor area of the wind turbine is automatically determined based on bat activity data. Bat activity in the rotor area is determined shortly before sunset, to ascertain whether the wind turbine should be curtailed (shut down) for the protection of bats, given the appropriate weather conditions.
    © OekoFor GbR
  • The calculated cut-in wind speeds, above which the wind turbine may be operated in each case, are clearly displayed in a table with a colour scale and can be downloaded as an Excel file.
    © OekoFor GbR

Further links

ProBat7 app:
More information about ProBat:
RENEBAT projects:

News

July 2021:
  • The new ProBat homepage is online! At www.probat.org you will find information on how ProBat works and the background of ProBat, as well as extensive FAQs for different user areas. All of this information is currently only available in German.
April 2021:
  • The curtailment verification app - short: ProBat-Inspector - is online! The app is free of charge and freely accessible on the internet via any modern web browser.
February 2021
  • The curtailment verification app has entered the testing phase.

Partners and Funding Organisations

The further development of the ProBat software is funded until 2021 by the BfN (German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation) and is coordinated by Naturstiftung David (Nature Foundation David). OekoFor GbR is the contractor of Naturstiftung David. The company Oikostat (Switzerland), complement our work with their statistical expertise.

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