The UK has the potential to deliver up to four times the country’s current energy consumption from renewables with low risk to wildlife, according to research by the RSPB.
The RSPB’s 2050 Energy Vision report said that the UK could generate as much as 6277TWh a year using only renewable technologies, almost four times more than the UK’s total energy consumption in 2014.
It added that this level of renewable energy could be produced while avoiding important sites for wildlife, using a mix of solar, onshore wind, bioenergy, offshore wind, wave and tidal power.
The report incorporates new mapping approaches to assess where renewable energy technologies could be located to avoid sensitive wildlife areas, while taking account of other planning constraints.
The RSPB has developed three 2050 scenarios that it said would meet the UK’s energy needs.
The report shows opportunities for emerging marine energy technologies, such as floating turbines to be located in deeper waters around the UK, where ecological sensitivities are likely to be lower, RSPB said.
But further investment in monitoring of wildlife distributions and sensitivities, especially in the marine environment, along with better use of spatial planning, is crucial to ensure that future developments are sited appropriately.
RSPB director of conservation Martin Harper said: “Climate change is one of the greatest long-term threats to wildlife.
“Rising to this challenge will require a major roll out of renewable and low carbon energy sources.
“If poorly planned, this can risk damaging valuable areas for wildlife.”
The RSPB is calling on governments across the UK to follow its recommendations in order to protect wildlife in the UK’s low carbon transition.
Image: sxc
RSPB maps low-risk RE bonanza
Charity says UK can achieve green revolution without harm to wildlife
By EBS