Research Coverage
Renewable Energy Powers Sustainable Seabird Research
The fieldwork of ERI PhD researcher Amy Jones has recently been featured in coverage by UHI North, West and Hebrides and the John O’Groat Journal, highlighting an innovative approach to powering seabird research at Dunnet Head.
Amy is undertaking fieldwork using marine radar to monitor seabird activity along the north coast of Scotland. During fieldwork this summer, an unexpected generator failure meant the research team had to find an alternative way to power the equipment.
The team responded by deploying portable solar panels beside the fieldwork vehicle. The panels supplied power to the radar computer, display screens and data-acquisition equipment inside the vehicle, while also supporting the radar base station and antenna. This allowed the research to continue while reducing reliance on a fuel-powered generator.
The experience has provided an opportunity to demonstrate how renewable energy can be incorporated into research in remote locations. As well as reducing fuel use and generator emissions, the solar-powered setup also reduced noise at the field site while allowing the team to continue collecting radar data on seabird activity.
UHI North, West and Hebrides highlighted the work in an article published on 11th September, focusing on how an unexpected equipment failure was turned into a practical demonstration of more sustainable fieldwork. The article also notes that this may be one of the first occasions that renewable energy has been used to power radar fieldwork at the university.
The story has also been picked up by the John O’Groat Journal, which focused on the local connection, reporting on how the power failure at Dunnet Head led to a sustainable solution for the Thurso-based researcher.
The coverage highlights an important aspect of Amy's research: alongside investigating seabird activity using radar, her fieldwork is also exploring how research itself can be carried out with a lower environmental impact. The successful use of portable solar power demonstrates the potential for renewable energy to support energy-intensive scientific equipment in remote field locations.
Amy is a PhD researcher at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), part of UHI North, West and Hebrides, where her research includes the use of radar to investigate bird movements and activity.
Read the coverage:
UHI North, West and Hebrides – UHI turns a generator failure into a solar-powered success
John O’Groat Journal – Dunnet Head power failure leads to sustainable solution for Thurso researcher
