Abstract
As part of its strategy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (notably carbon dioxide) from burning fossil fuels, the Government has set a target to generate 10% of the UK’s electricity from renewable sources of energy by 2010 and 5% by 2003. In addition to greenhouse gas (Kyoto) targets, renewable energy, together with energy efficiency and combined heat and power schemes, can make a vital contribution to sustainability and meeting acidifying gas targets. Both greenhouse gases and acidifying gases have damaging impacts on biodiversity; the development of wind farms is a key means of reducing emissions and should be supported as such, provided that individual proposals include appropriate measures for protecting and conserving wildlife and geological/geomorphological features.
Wind energy is now recognised as the fastest growing energy technology in the world. The yearly growth rate is estimated at 30%, with some 3000 megawatts (MW) of new capacity having been installed in 1999. There is, therefore, likely to be a significant increase in the number of wind farm proposals in the UK in years to come (compared to the 17 MW that were installed in 1999). Wind farms are sited in exposed areas to ensure high average wind speeds to maximise energy capture, a requirement commonly but not exclusively met in coastal, upland and offshore areas. Such locations often comprise some of the most important and sensitive habitats, so there is a need to ensure that potentially damaging effects are avoided or, if not possible, minimised or mitigated.
The aim of this document is to provide information to guide the responses of nature conservation organisations in England to wind farm proposals. Its contents are based on one of the key outcomes of a statutory agency/NGO workshop on wind farms and nature conservation. The guidance should not be considered to be definitive, but more as an informal checklist to help in formulating detailed responses to approaches in respect of individual applications. Any formal assessment of a wind farm proposal will be undertaken in the context of relevant statutory and national policy provisions, and on a case by case basis. A summary of possible impacts is given in Annex 1 and a list of key publications in Annex 2.
A second key outcome of the workshop was recognition of the need for clearer policy guidance from the Government on the location and funding of wind farm developments, and for better co-ordination between its different departments on these and related issues. These areas of concern are being addressed by the statutory agencies and NGOs in their policy advocacy work and this document can be used as a tool to assist in the process.