SRUC Conference
Alexa Morrison, RSPB Scotland
[email protected]
Bogged down with wind farms?
Optimising land for Energy Production, Carbon
Emissions and Biodiversity
Overview
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Renewables targets and pressure on peatlands
Impacts of wind farms on peatlands
Avoiding impacts and maximising benefits
Conclusions – what principles are needed?
The need for wind
energy
• 100% renewables
target (demand
equivalent)
• Onshore wind key to
meeting targets
• RSPB supports wind
energy in right places
Importance of peatlands
Carbon sink Biodiversity Water regulation Cultura
Bird sensitivity
Of 1km squares
falling within
peatland, 52% are
high sensitivity, 32%
medium and 17%
low/ unknown
(compared with 37%,
31% and 32% overall)
SNH: http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A1055080.pdf
Policy
• EC Habitats Directive
• Scottish Biodiversity Action Plan
• Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)
– “where peat and other
carbon rich soils are present,
applicants should assess the
likely effects associated with
any development work.”
– New draft: ‘Significant
protection’ for ‘high quality,
unaltered peat’
Wind farm impacts
• Tracks, borrow pits, turbine bases and grid infrastructure
• Drainage, loss of vegetation and peat removal leading to
drying and oxidation of peat
Loss of carbon, habitat and other ES
Carbon impact assessment
• Carbon assessments on all wf above 50MW
• No guidance on acceptable ‘carbon payback period’
• New study finds “whereas in 2010, most sites had potential to provide net
carbon savings, by 2040 most sites will not reduce carbon emissions even with
careful management” (Smith et al., 2013).
Emissions factors
Smith J, Nayak DR and Smith P (2013)
Issue: Current usage does not consider
progressive decarbonisation of the grid
Avoiding impacts....
Avoid deep peat!
• Siting and micro-siting
• Tracks and turbines
• Consider long-term
sustainable use of land
– e.g. Forestry removal and wind
farm, or forestry removal and
peatland restoration?
Avoiding impacts...
Good practice in construction/
operation/ decommissioning
• Industry principles: a good start
• SNH guidance on WF
construction
– Drainage
– Woodland removal
– Habitat enhancement
• SEPA Guidance
– Peat depth survey
– Peat Management Plan
....and maximising benefits
• Maximise restoration
opportunities
• E.g. Black Law wind farm
– 1440ha Habitat Management
Plan (HMP)
– Opencast restoration,
plantation removal,
watercourse restoration
Summary
There is a need to optimise wind energy for carbon,
biodiversity and energy benefits
Developers must:
• Avoid siting wind farms on sensitive peatlands
• Accurately assess carbon impacts - using average grid
emissions factor over development lifetime
• Apply good practice to minimise disruption and
maximise restoration opportunities
Thank-you