Intelligent Energy for Europe 2009

Good practice in reconciling onshore and offshore wind energy with

environmental objectives

GPWIND

Issues highlighted by the European Commission

• Inexperience of applying EU environmental directives in

offshore environment = uncertainty = cost and delay• Lack of knowledge and information sharing on

application of EU environmental legislation• Lack of data available on marine ecosystems and

location of protected species and habitats• Uncertainty about suitability of sites = delays and

disputes• Lack of awareness of information on impact of wind

farms on species and habitats

GPWIND will:

• Address barriers to development of offshore and onshore wind generation

• Reconcile renewable energy objectives with environmental objectives

• Address active involvement of communities

• Develop good practice guidance & ‘how to’ tool kit

• Comparative case studies

Issues it will address

• Bird collision risk• Cumulative Impact Assessment• Noise• Pre and post construction monitoring• Peat slide risk assessment• Community engagement• Marine mammal protection• Land and habitat management• Information dissemination

Intended outcomes

• Demonstrate and disseminate good practice across EU

• Develop a common methodology• User friendly good practice guide• ‘How to toolkit’ to facilitate dissemination of good

practice at local level• Focus on problem solving and practical

experience • Valuable tool for policy makers, developers,

administrative authorities, communities and environmental bodies

Partners

• At least 3 EU MS

• Government, NGOs, industry

• Firm partners from Belgium, Malta, Greece, Ireland, Spain

• Others involved: RSPB, SNH, DECC, WWF Scotland, JNCC

•Looking for more!

Western Isles study

• After the refusal of consent for the Lewis wind farm

• SG commissioned independent study into potential for economic community benefits on the islands in harmony with conservation objectives and obligations

• Involvement and joint working of key stakeholders and ongoing commitment to work together = essential to realising actions emerging from the study

• Key environmental and economic stakeholders: SNH, SEPA, Western Isles Council, HIE, Scottish Government

• Western Isles is dependant on imported fossil fuels = fuel poverty for many inhabitants

• Western Isles has huge potential for electricity generation from wind and marine

• BUT the islands have the most extensive coverage of environmental designations of any region in Scotland

• Therefore there’s a constraint on the nature and scale of permitted development

National Scenic Areas

National Areas of Conservation

Background:

Findings• Renewables is the main

economic driver• Onshore wind offers most

opportunities short term• Marine playing increasing role

longer term• Development of an Energy

Innovation Zone – shared wind energy control centre including a wind energy testing site

Black Law wind farm

• Implemented the largest and most ambitious habitat management plan

• Demonstrates that wind farm developments and environment can go hand in hand

Habitat management plan

• 1,440 hectares actively managed to create and improve conditions for wildlife.

• Planting vegetation to improve conditions for birds and encourage species back to the area

• Ambitious habitat restoration project:- Restoration of an abandoned 150 hectare opencast mine and clearance of around 400 hectares of non-native forestry.

- Mine filled in and developed as wet grassland for

breeding birds.

Outcomes of habitat management plan

• Habitat restoration plan = land scarred by opencast mining and commercial forestry is being reclaimed by nature a year after it began.

• Increase in bird species• Vegetation monitoring = regeneration of typical

upland vegetation• Cleared forestry areas restored to blanket bog

and acid grassland