The expansion of wind energy needed to meet Europe’s climate goals and enhance energy security needs to occur in balance with nature protection, according to WindEurope.
The trade body said biodiversity and renewables go “hand-in-hand”, following the publication of the European Commission’s Nature Protection Package to implement the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, part of the European Green Deal.
The package is also supporting the REPowerEU Action Plan, the measures to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the growth of renewables, which the Commission presented on 18 May.
Two years ago the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy proposed legally binding EU nature restoration targets and requirements for national biodiversity restoration plans.
It introduced protected areas for 30% of the EU’s landmass and oceans and also acknowledged the importance of renewable energy in protecting ecosystems and mitigating the negative environmental effects of climate change.
The Nature Protection Package enshrines in EU law a 20% binding restoration target of European seas and land and is a “key opportunity” to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in Europe.
With NGO and Transmission System Operators colleagues in the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN), WindEurope called recently for strong EU restoration targets and a framework to support ecologically-sound offshore wind and electricity grid deployment.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson said: “It’s good the Commission is developing Europe’s nature protection rules in line with the REPowerEU strategy.
“Biodiversity and renewables go hand in hand. The wind industry remains committed as ever to protect biodiversity.
“We work closely with NGOs to mitigate impacts on wildlife – and with local communities that host our wind farms.”
He added: “With REPowerEU’s new permitting rules and today’s Nature Protection Package, Member States now have a full picture of the good working balance between biodiversity and renewables expansion.
“They now need to implement the REPowerEU measures on the simplification of permitting.
“And EU Energy Ministers need to agree ASAP the new rules on this that the Commission have proposed in the EU Renewables Directive.”