WindEurope has called for a new EU biodiversity strategy that proposes protected areas across swathes of Europe that do not create new restrictions on wind energy.
The trade association said that transforming Europe’s energy system needed to “go together” with developing a “sound biodiversity strategy” and called for wind developments to be allowed to continue in and around Natura 2000 protected sites.
It also called for the European Commission to “give clear guidance on how to apply the Habitats and Birds Directives”.
The EU’s biodiversity strategy proposes 30% of the EU’s landmass and 30% of EU’s oceans should be designated as protected areas, with legally binding nature restoration targets and requirements for national biodiversity restoration plans.
It also proposes that at least a third of these – areas of very high biodiversity value – should become strictly protected areas.
Other provisions will see an aim to plant 3bn trees and monitor primeval forests as well as an Action Plan to protect marine ecosystems.
“Climate change threatens the existence of eco-systems and the survival of species around the globe,” said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.
“Renewable energies are the best and most important instrument to mitigate climate change. An integrated biodiversity strategy requires an accelerated transition to renewable energies. And wind energy is central to that.”
WindEurope said the EU Green Deal objective of European climate neutrality requires the installation of 1200 GW of wind energy by 2050 – up to 750 GW onshore wind and 450 GW offshore wind.
Dickson added: “The new Biodiversity Strategy will extend the number of protected areas in Europe and within them the number of highly protected areas.
“It’s important this can happen without creating new restrictions on the expansion of wind energy which would risk undermining Europe’s ability to deliver the Green Deal.
“It is a myth that wind turbines are a significant danger to European bird populations. Collisions are far lower than for other forms of infrastructure such as buildings or transport.
“The wind industry works closely with NGOs to mitigate impacts on birdlife – during site selection, permitting and continuous environmental impact assessments.”
WindEurope said that in Germany, which has 30,000 wind turbines, the National Bird Protection Report 2019 found that most bird species considered sensitive to wind energy are stable or increasing in population.
These include large birds such as white-tailed eagles, eagle owls and black storks and birds living close to the ground, such as lapwings and partridges.
“The fact that most bird populations considered sensitive to wind energy are increasing, shows that the wind industry is doing a good job on nature conservation and restoration,” said Dickson.
“There are many examples of win-win situations for wind energy and biodiversity. We want more of these.”