The installation of wind farms requires a range of cranes, including crawlers and mobiles, with lifting capacities into triple figures needed to raise and position the various components, including foundations, masts, blades and nacelles.
Figures from the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) show 2,402 turbines are currently operational at wind farms across the UK, with a further 582 being erected and consent given for projects using 2,106 turbines. Further projects involving 3,085 turbines are in the planning stage. The RSPB commissioned report, produced by the Institute for European Environmental Policy, acknowledges its proposals will require the erection of a greater number of wind turbines.
Bird habitats are something that needs to be factored into wind farm applications for both offshore projects, and so the report outlines a number of action points to ensure biodiversity and renewable energy can coexist.
This includes a strategic planning approach that defines areas where wind farms are given priority and those where they will conflict with wildlife; and UK-wide bird sensitivity maps showing areas of concerns for conservationists, like those already used in Scotland to guide developments. It also calls for government leadership to increase local authority knowledge on wind farms, set locals targets for the number of turbines and make sure planning decisions take into account that growing wind power use is a national priority; increased communication from developers on their plans; and greater promotion of the benefits of wind power to local communities in order to win public support, including reduced bills, direct ownership of wind turbines and improvements to the local environment.
“”BWEA feels it is important that the RSPB report is followed with action on the ground,” said BWEA chief executive Maria McCaffery. “Government now needs to provide better resourcing for local authorities to deal with wind farm planning applications.”