Wind Farm Ecological Impact Assessment

Wild Frontier's Ecologists have considerable experience in providing complete EcIA services for onshore wind farms.

Background

An increase in wind-generated power, requiring the construction of thousands more onshore and offshore wind turbines, has been put forward by the Government as part of the renewable energy investment needed to reach the UK’s 2010 carbon emissions targets. Even so, new wind farm applications are still guaranteed very close scrutiny for potential ecological concerns. The standards for ecological surveys on proposed wind farm sites have increased in recent years as the potential impacts on wildlife have become better recognised.

For wind farms built in the early stages of the industry there was an ignorance of their potential for negative effects on wildlife. It became gradually evident in the 1980’s that birds within the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in California were fatally colliding with wind turbine blades in numbers larger than might be expected by random occurrence. High rates of collision became apparent at European wind farms too, such as the sites in northern and southern Spain (Navarra and Tarifa).

At certain wind farm sites, research monitoring for bird fatalities unexpectedly noted exceptional numbers of bat fatalities. USA bat-turbine collision studies at ridge-top sites in the Appalachian Mountains found alarming levels of mortality for particular bat species. Similar studies in Europe (particularly Germany) have also found that, if poorly placed, wind farms can cause significant bat mortality.

Wind Farm Ornithology Assessments

By the late 1990’s and on into 2000, potential turbine collision, barrier to movement, and site displacement, were all recognized as important ornithological issues requiring rigorous risk assessment for potential wind farm sites. In 2005, Scottish Natural Heritage produced the guidelines that describe what has become a standard protocol for wind farm ornithology studies in the UK. Models to estimate the predicted number of bird collisions over a set period of time were developed and are now regularly used in wind farm ornithology assessments.

All Wild Frontier Ecology's ornithological surveys, including both vantage point and breeding bird assessments, are carried out by either by WFE's own expert ornithologists, or by selected expert sub-contractors with national reputations. Wild Frontier Ecology now employs collision risk modelling as a standard risk assessment method for all wind farm EcIAs.

Wind Farm Bat Assessments

All bat species are statutorily protected by European directive, being listed under Annex II of 92/43/EEC (EC Habitats Directive), and are given UK protected status by Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994. A number of European countries (including the UK) have become contracted parties of the EUROBATS Agreement, which is a commitment to bat conservation in Europe. EUROBATS guidelines for considering bats in planning wind-farm projects have been produced, and in 2008 Natural England issued its own interim guidance for on-shore wind farm planning and assessment. The assessment of potential negative impacts of wind turbines on bats is a rapidly developing field which now requires thorough consideration in wind farm EcIA.

Wild Frontier Ecology works hard to stay abreast of the most recent bat research and impact assessment guidelines. Our prospective wind farm site bat surveys are a combination of techniques including transect surveys, static monitoring stations using the Anabat SD1 bat detector, and roost site investigations. We are currently trialing the use of helium weather balloons for static activity surveys at higher altitudes.

WFE can also provide post-construction bat mortality monitoring studies for operational wind farms.

Our Experience

Wild Frontier Ecology began working on wind farm projects in 2003 and has since evolved a specialization in assessing wind turbine developments (single and multi-turbine projects). Our accumulated expertise now means that we can provide detailed advice to developers throughout the project design and pre-planning phases. This heads off poor turbine placement and lessens the potential for negative biodiversity impacts. We support our advice with frequent consultations with relevant conservation bodies with which we maintain good working relationships.

Examples of wind turbine development clients and services engaged from 2003 – present include:

• Bheara Ltd. Ecology work for an appeal on a site in S. Wales.

• Bineri Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out at two sites.

• Coriolis Wind. Ornithology studies at a site in Norfolk.

• Dulas Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out on a number of sites.

• EcoGen Projects Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies (including operational wind farm bird and bat corpse surveys) carried out at two proposed wind farm sites in Cambridgeshire.

• Ecotricity Group Ltd. Bird and/or ecology studies carried out at six single-turbine sites, and Ecology Reports written for four sites.

• Energy4All Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out and an Environmental Statement ecology chapter in preparation for a proposed wind farm site in Leicestershire.

• Engena Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out on a number of sites. Ecology chapters prepared for the Benington Wind Farm and four others in preparation.

• North Energy Associates. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out and ES ecology chapters in preparation for two proposed wind farm sites in Yorkshire.

• Perpetual Energy. Ornithology studies at a site in Scotland.

• ProWind GmBH. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out on a number of sites.

• RidgeWind Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out on a number of sites. Ecology chapters prepared for the Palmers Hollow Wind Farm and one other in preparation.

• SLP Energy Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out on a number of sites. Ecology chapters have been written for Kessingland Wind Farm (approved), Hawthorn Wind Farm and Hemsby Wind Farm ES.

• Your Energy Ltd. Ornithology and ecology studies carried out on a number of sites. Ecology chapters have been written for Parham Wind Farm (approved), Milton Keynes Wind Farm approved), Laughton Wind Farm, and Cambridge Services Wind Farm (Cambridgeshire) ES. Expert witness services were provided at Public Inquiries for Laughton Wind Farm and Cambridge Services Wind Farm.

Wind Farm in the Fens - post construction monitoring by WFE