Where should future wind farms be located? NINA is developing a planning tool for wind farms where impacts on species richness and ecosystem services are mapped. Now we invite interested parties to participate.
Rampion offshore wind farm in Great Britain. Photo: Nicholas Doherty/ Unsplash.
Wind farms occupy large areas and can have negative consequences for birds, bats, marine mammals and other groups of species. They generate green energy but often at the cost of nature and the ecosystem services which forms the basis for the well-being of our society. Better planning tools that take environmental consequences into account will be part of the solution to show regard for nature in the development of future wind farms.
– Biodiversity and ecosystem services must be included earlier in the planning process. With the rapid and extensive development of wind power now seen, the most valuable nature areas must be secured from degradation, says researcher Thomas Kvalnes.
What is people’s perception about wind farms?
The research project WENDY takes a holistic approach that includes the social perception, environmental impacts and technical aspects of the development of wind farms.At NINA, we investigate how wind farms on land and at sea impacts ecosystem services and the habitats for birds, bats and marine mammals.
– We develop methods for assessment and mapping of impacts on animals and ecosystem services. The aim is to include these methods in a spatial planning tool for wind farms. We want extensive involvement of stakeholders to map ecosystem services on a local and regional scale, says Kvalnes.
Register here: Network of Interest – WENDY (wendy-kep.eu)
Knowledge platform and network of interest
To facilitate dissemination and knowledge exchange into practice, a knowledge platform has been established. On this platform, we share new knowledge from the project and have also compiled an overview of other sources of knowledge about environmental, social and technical aspects of wind power. As part of the work, a network is being established that is open to anyone interested.
An introduction video for the WENDY-network can be seen her.
Knowledge exchange platform: WENDY – Knowledge Exchange Platform (wendy-kep.eu)
WENDY-project website: Wendy Project – Changing the perception of renewable energy projects. (wendy-project.eu)
Follow the links to explore the knowledge platform. You can also join the network for the WENDY-project, where you can get in touch with other interested parties and be included at an early stage of the development of the planning tool.
WENDY - Multicriteria analysis of factors triggering the PIMBY principle for Wind technologies.
The project is financed though the EU Horizon programme.
Contact:
Thomas Kvalnes
Reto Spielhofer
Frank Hansen
Roel May