3. Nov 2025
Viola Heinzen
ProTecBird and Oikon form Partnership to Protect Endangered Bird Species in the Western Balkans
The German technology company ProTecBird and the renowned Croatian Institute of Applied Ecology, Oikon Ltd., have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen the protection of bird species in the immediate vicinity of wind farms in Croatia and other countries across the Western Balkans.
Oikon brings decades of experience in environmental protection and has played a key role in aligning Croatia’s energy sector with Natura 2000 regulations and requirements. As new technologies such as Shutdown on Demand (SDoD) continue to mature, Oikon is expanding the scope of nature protection towards species-specific conservation within the field of renewable energy. With ProTecBird and its AI-based anti-collision system AVES Wind, Oikon has found the ideal partner to achieve this goal.
In Southeastern Europe, where mountainous and often forested regions dominate the landscape, such conditions pose major challenges for detection systems. Detecting and tracking birds in such terrain demands the highest performance from cameras, software, and AI. This is precisely where ProTecBird’s flexible system architecture, optimized for complex landscapes, demonstrates its strengths.
Two projects are already in the implementation phase in Croatia: 28 AVES Wind systems will be in operation at the Senj Wind Farm, and another 17 at the Vrataruša Wind Farm. These systems will soon reliably protect golden eagles, short-toed snake eagles, and griffon vultures from collisions with turbine blades.
“Our collaboration with Oikon enables us to deploy our technology even in particularly challenging mountainous terrain – an environment perfectly suited to our flexible system design,” explains Thorsten Heinzen, CEO of ProTecBird.
Dalibor Hatić, CEO of Oikon Ltd., also highlights the importance of the partnership: “With ProTecBird, we are gaining a partner that combines cutting-edge AI technology with a deep understanding of practical nature conservation. Together, we are laying the foundation for expanding renewable energy in Croatia and the region sustainably and in harmony with nature.”
Through this cooperation, both companies are making a significant contribution to aligning the expansion of renewable energy in Western Balkans with effective protection of endangered species – a model that could set benchmarks internationally.
Image:Windfarm in Croatia © adobe stock, focus finder
3. Nov 2025
Viola Heinzen
ProTecBird and Oikon form Partnership to Protect Endangered Bird Species in the Western Balkans
The German technology company ProTecBird and the renowned Croatian Institute of Applied Ecology, Oikon Ltd., have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen the protection of bird species in the immediate vicinity of wind farms in Croatia and other countries across the Western Balkans.
Oikon brings decades of experience in environmental protection and has played a key role in aligning Croatia’s energy sector with Natura 2000 regulations and requirements. As new technologies such as Shutdown on Demand (SDoD) continue to mature, Oikon is expanding the scope of nature protection towards species-specific conservation within the field of renewable energy. With ProTecBird and its AI-based anti-collision system AVES Wind, Oikon has found the ideal partner to achieve this goal.
In Southeastern Europe, where mountainous and often forested regions dominate the landscape, such conditions pose major challenges for detection systems. Detecting and tracking birds in such terrain demands the highest performance from cameras, software, and AI. This is precisely where ProTecBird’s flexible system architecture, optimized for complex landscapes, demonstrates its strengths.
Two projects are already in the implementation phase in Croatia: 28 AVES Wind systems will be in operation at the Senj Wind Farm, and another 17 at the Vrataruša Wind Farm. These systems will soon reliably protect golden eagles, short-toed snake eagles, and griffon vultures from collisions with turbine blades.
“Our collaboration with Oikon enables us to deploy our technology even in particularly challenging mountainous terrain – an environment perfectly suited to our flexible system design,” explains Thorsten Heinzen, CEO of ProTecBird.
Dalibor Hatić, CEO of Oikon Ltd., also highlights the importance of the partnership: “With ProTecBird, we are gaining a partner that combines cutting-edge AI technology with a deep understanding of practical nature conservation. Together, we are laying the foundation for expanding renewable energy in Croatia and the region sustainably and in harmony with nature.”
Through this cooperation, both companies are making a significant contribution to aligning the expansion of renewable energy in Western Balkans with effective protection of endangered species – a model that could set benchmarks internationally.
Image:Windfarm in Croatia © adobe stock, focus finder