Natural England has called for new offshore wind farms to leave
nature in a better state than before and avoid any irreparable
damage to the environment, in a new document published today
(16th June) setting out its Approach to Offshore
Wind.
The approach sets out how offshore wind energy can play a
vital role in nature recovery as well as tackling climate change.
Natural England will seek to ensure new projects ‘build in’ plans
to enhance nature and protect the natural environment from the
pressures presented by each new offshore wind development. The
approach will be used with partners, stakeholders, government and
other marine users to ensure that a thriving marine and coastal
environment is a cornerstone of future developments.
Offshore wind expansion is a cornerstone of the UK’s Net
Zero targets and represents a central aim of the Government’s
green industrial
revolution. The
Government plans to produce 40GW of energy from
offshore wind by 2030. To meet this target, it’s estimated the UK
will need to install the equivalent of one turbine at sea every
weekday for the rest of the decade.
As the sector plans for this massive growth it is timely
for Natural England to review its approach. Natural England are
the statutory advisor for nature conservation and landscape for
development planning cases, and have many years of
experience advising the offshore wind sector on nature
conservation.
Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England,
said: “Offshore wind energy provides much needed clean
energy to millions of homes and businesses. Natural England is
committed to playing its part in enabling it to happen but we are
also committed to making sure that nature is not
forgotten.
“Plans for further expansion over the next decade must
allow our marine environment to recover and thrive. Our
evidence-based approach is the start of a conversation with
government, developers and other marine users on how we will all
work together to achieve this.”
As the UK sets out to increase its offshore wind output,
marine planning must be at the heart of future developments. This
will balance the needs of the marine environment, other marine
users and net zero targets in order to tackle climate change and
address the decline of biodiversity.
To achieve this, the approach outlines a series of
objectives and actions that Natural England will focus on in
partnership with others, including Defra’s Offshore Wind Enabling
Actions Programme:
- Setting an aim for each development to leave nature in a
better state – with infrastructure designed to enhance
biodiversity
- Measures to compensate for environmental harm should be
introduced in advance of any impact on wildlife and the
environment – and be strategic, to scale, and evidence-based.
- Strategic monitoring to inform stronger, evidence-based
impact assessments of offshore wind developments and promoting
the use of environmentally sensitive design, construction and
operation of offshore wind developments to mitigate predicted
impacts.
- Development of an easy-to-use environmental sensitivities map
so that planners and developers can ensure offshore wind farms
and cables avoid irreparable damage to the environment
Notes to editor:
- Natural England’s role in the offshore wind sector is to
provide advice on the natural environment in England to a range
of partners and stakeholders. It has both statutory and
non-statutory roles: the former, as a consultee on Nationally
Significant Infrastructure Projects including offshore wind
farms; the latter, as experts and advisors on marine and coastal
landscape and ecology issues.
- The full approach can be found here: http://nepubprod.appspot.com/publication/5400620875120640
