Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements: The experience of ACCIONA Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements: The experience of ACCIONA Lorena García Alvero International Environment Dpt. EWEC MILAN. 10 May 2007

1. ACCIONA, a leader in renewables 2. Environmental issues 3. Best-Practice measures. Examples 4. New Projects 5. Conclusions Index Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements

1. ACCIONA, a leader in renewables Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements

Wind energy leader, present in the main clean technologies HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION 1. ACCIONA, a leader in renewables Small hydro Wind Photovoltaic solar Thermal electric solar Biodiesel Biomass and cogeneration Bioethanol ELECTRICITY BIOFUELS Thermal solar HEAT 3,133 MW (1,225 other companies) 2.4 MW (26 other companies) 142 MW59 MW64 MW (construction) 1 MW (23 other companies) 70,000 t26,000 t

… and in 2 industrial businesses INDUSTRIAL INTEGRATION Portugal SOLAR PANELS 24 MW per annum (under development) Vall D´UixóBarasoainToledoNantong WIND TURBINES 2006: : 211 hubs 31 shafts 2006: : 36 (Cap: 360 ) (Cap: 400 ) 1. ACCIONA, a leader in renewables

Wind power implemented by ACCIONA in the world 1. ACCIONA, a leader in renewables Countries with windparks installed New countries with windparks being developed MW owned: 3,133. MW attributed: 2,348. MW installed (own property and other companies): 4,357 Canada 60 MW USA 86 MW Spain 2,648 MW France 65 MW Germany 116 MW Australia 66 MW Italy 33 MW Greece 35 MW Hungary 24 MW

2. Environmental issues Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements

Main points to be considered 2. Environmental issues 2.1 Ecology and Nature Conservation 2.2 Avifauna and bats 2.3 Landscape and visual Impact 2.4 Shadow Flicker 2.5 Noise 2.6 Cultural Heritage

Relevant regulatory framework County development plans and national planning policies. Wildlife sites:  European sites: SPAs and SACs.  Country, regional protected areas.  National Parks, National Scenic Areas, Candidate Special Areas of Conservation, RAMSAR sites… Local planning officers. 2.1 Ecology and Nature Conservation

No significant rates of bird collisions Before Construction:  12-month field survey  Control of the use of space: heigth, flight distances, crossing points on crests, type of flight…as well as atmospheric conditions, wind conditions… Post - Construction:  1-5 years of monitoring  In ACCIONA’s windparks in Navarre -with almost 1,000 turbines installed now- the detected mortality rate for small, medium-sized and large birds between 2000 and 2006 have oscillated between 0.1 and 0.6 collisions per wind turbine/year 2.2. Avifauna and Bats BIRDS - Standard methodologies: BACI

Not well-known all around the world Detectors to quantify bat activity. Identification: Echolocation calls. Studies focused on height patterns during flights and species identification.  In ACCIONA’s windparks in Navarre -with almost 1,000 turbines installed now- the detected mortality rate for bats between 2000 and 2006 have oscillated between and collisions per wind turbine/year Avifauna and Bats BATS

Photomontage 2.3. Landscape and visual impact

Shadow Flicker 2.4. Shadow Flicker Shadow flickering analysis for neighbouring properties is undertaken in the design phase. Maximum 30 h per year Maximum 30 min per day

Noise 2.5. Noise Maximun allowable log equivalent (hourly measurements) in dBA: 55 dBA: day time (07:00 – 22:00) 45 dBA : night time (22:00- 07:00) Source: The World Bank Also to be taken into account: ISO / 2

Cultural Heritage Archaeological evaluation in advance of construction. On–site archaeologist during excavation Cultural Heritage

3. Best - Practice Measures Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements

Best-Practice measures should be adopted by any windfarm development Ensuring that key areas of conservation importance are avoided. Implementing appropriate working practices to protect sensitive habitats. Employing an on-site biologist / ecologist during construction. Implementing an agreed postdevelopment monitoring programme. Timing construction to avoid sensitive periods. Avoiding alignments perpendicular to main flight paths. Providing corridors between turbines when necessary. Marking overhead cables: Transmission lines must be birds-friendly. Implementing habitat enhancement for species using the site. 3. Best-Practice Measures

Best-Practice measures should be adopted by any windfarm development Separation of vegetable soil when excavating, to be re-used for landfill. Only use the necessary surface area, taking advantage of existing access routes to the maximum. Recovering the original profile of the land and sow grass to ensure its recovery and prevent erosion. Removing dead livestock (attract birds). Identification of concrete wells, waste containers… 3. Best-Practice Measures

Examples of Best-Practice measures 3. Best-Practice Measures Recovering the original profile of the land and sowing grass

Examples of Best-Practice measures 3. Best-Practice Measures Corridor for birds in the El Perdón windpark (Navarre) Use of an existing access track and regeneration of the surroundings of the Leitza windpark (Navarre)

Example of the same access road during construction and operation phase. Subsoil and topsoil were replaced “in situ”. 3. Best-Practice Measures

Polypropylene spirals rolled around two wires 3. Best-Practice Measures

Neoprene black crossed bands on conductors 3. Best-Practice Measures

4. New Projects Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements

Remote techniques: Radar. Currently, we are testing painted blades in four windfarms. Research on acustic-deterrent device to make bats avoid wind turbines. Bird radar tracking in certain species (Bonelli’s eagle, Hieraetus fasciatus). Adapt the control software to stop turbines during certain periods of time (migration) Video cameras for bird surveillance. 4. New Projects

5. Conclusions Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements

Environmental issues must be integrated from the first step in the wind farm design The implementation of wind power should be done from a perspective of respect for the environment: Site selection is crucial to minimising impacts. A postdevelopment monitoring programme is essential to verify the predictions made in the ES, to identify the need for further mitigation measures should they be required. Best – practice measures avoid environmental problems. Exchange of experience, knowledge and good practice in environmental issues. 5. Conclusions

Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements The experience of ACCIONA Onshore wind and environmental impact requirements The experience of ACCIONA EWEC MILAN. 10 May 2007 Lorena García Alvero International Environment Dpt.