To ensure that biodiversity is adequately considered in the process of developing wind power projects, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and BirdLife International planned a one-day consultation held on May 4, 2012 in Washington, DC in conjunction with the CIF governing committee meetings. This consultation builds on an initial meeting at the CIF Partnership Forum 2011, at which the management of wind power project’s impact on biodiversity was discussed.
Wind power is known mostly as an environmentally-friendly energy resource with nearly zero carbon emissions and low water consumption. However, adversely-sited wind farms, turbines and associated transmission lines can have negative impacts on both flora and fauna through habitat destruction and migration disruption. Birds and bats are particularly susceptible to these negative impacts.
This consultation aimed to provide a platform for sharing experiences in addressing concerns about biodiversity in wind energy projects as well as highlight how best to address biodiversity considerations in the design and implementation of wind projects funded by the CIF. Speakers from CIF pilot and partner countries—including Ethiopia and South Africa—MDB partners (i.e. AfDB, EBRD, IDB and World Bank), NGOs, and the private sector provided diverse perspectives on biodiversity and wind power projects.
The
agenda of the workshop was as follows:
1. Introduction of Climate Investment Funds and Wind Power Projects
2. Review of Challenges and Tools in Managing Risks to Birds and Bats
Overview of bird conservation considerations in wind energy development
Richard Grimmett, BirdLife International
Current best practice guidance in avoiding and mitigating impact on birds from wind energy development
Sherif Baha El Din, Nature Conservation Egypt; Hanneline Smit, BirdLife South Africa
Overview of bat conservation considerations in wind energy development
Cris Hein, Bat Conservation International
3. Perspective from CIF-funded Countries Ethiopia
ESKOM in South Africa
4. MDB Safeguards Policies and Practices Relevant for CIF-Funded Wind Projects
5. Perspectives from the Private Sector
6. Next Steps
- Discussion with all participants on developing concrete actions and a draft action plan for moving forward-led by Richard Grimmett, BirdLife International
- View a recording of of the consultation agenda items 1-4
- View a recording of the consultation agenda items 4-6
Highlights
A mitigation hierarchy—avoid, reduce, mitigate, and offset—was introduced as a graduated set of actions that can be taken to protect birds and bats whose habitat and/or migratory paths overlap with wind power project sites.
The effect of wind power projects on birds and bats are season, site, and species specific (4S). By obtaining specific data on these elements, deaths of birds and bats can be avoided to a some extent. “Sensitivity mapping” is one technique employed that captures the 4S elements.
There are effective practices currently being used by private and public sector actors that can mitigate negative impacts of wind power developoment for biodiversity. There are also benefits for energy producer, distributors and consumers as a result of fewer disruptions.
Establishing effective Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) criteria from the outset of a project—before tendering or tariff negotiation—and use of industry best practice can reduce negative impacts on biodiversity.
Data is vital to understanding and reducing impacts on biodiversity in wind power projects. Data collection can be undertaken without prohibitive cost.
Currently, CIF relies on MDB guidelines and procedures for assessing potential negative impacts of wind power projects.