As wind energy plays an increasingly important role in Europe’s electricity supply, the requirements surrounding security, availability and nature protection are growing as well. Operators must protect wind farms against unauthorised access and sabotage, identify technical anomalies at an early stage and, at the same time, reduce the risk of bird collisions.

Network cameras are consequently evolving from traditional security devices into connected sensors for wind-farm operations. Axis Communications combines visual and thermal cameras with radar, access control, network audio, video analytics and edge AI. This allows operators to remotely verify turbines, access routes and technical areas, identify unusual temperature developments and analyse the movements of people or vehicles around remote sites.

One example is the collaboration with ProTecBird. Its AI-based AVES Wind anti-collision system uses robust Axis cameras, including the AXIS Q6225-LE, to detect and identify protected bird species approaching wind turbines. The system analyses flight direction, speed, altitude and distance. If a potential collision risk is identified, the affected turbine can be selectively slowed down.

According to ProTecBird, AVES Wind can now identify up to 20 protected bird species. For red kites and white-tailed eagles, the company reports detection and identification rates of more than 95 per cent. The approach is intended to enable operators to respond to an actual risk situation rather than relying exclusively on precautionary shutdown periods.

The surrounding environment of wind farms can also be incorporated into the monitoring architecture. In cooperation with Fleximaus, panoramic cameras are installed at heights of between 80 and 100 metres. AI-based analytics can identify agricultural activities such as mowing, harvesting or ploughing and trigger predefined operational or protection processes.

The result is an integrated sensor infrastructure capable of supporting several functions at the same time: perimeter protection, bird detection, thermal monitoring and automated responses to defined events. Instead of treating physical security, environmental monitoring and operational visibility as separate disciplines, the same networked infrastructure can provide information for multiple use cases.

As wind farms become an increasingly important part of Europe’s critical infrastructure, continuous situational awareness will therefore become a key element of resilience. The earlier operators can detect, classify and verify an abnormal event, the greater their ability to protect assets, biodiversity and the availability of renewable power generation.

Read the full feature in EURO SECURITY EMEA issue 8/9-2026.