Migratory Soaring Birds Project SEA & Wind Energy planning
Strategic Environmental Assessment SEAs provide overall assessment and guidance to inform where specific developments could occur SEA is a key tool for site selection of wind farms Provides the means to take an overview of the potential impacts of development within a particular area Identify locations where wind development is likely to have the least impact on vulnerable habitats and birds Assess the likely cumulative impact of multiple developments within an area
Strategic Planning & RV/RS 2 nd most important flyway in the world for migratory soaring birds Significant populations of globally threatened species Soaring birds are documented as the group of birds most frequently colliding with wind turbines Globally important biodiversity and Bottleneck sites Huge future potentials for energy development, especially wind energy
Wind development cycle SEA & development cycle
Structured approach to development Role of different phases in preventing detrimental effects of wind farm developments on bird populations
Strategic vs planning phase Species sensitivity Species exposure Strategic phase Sensitivity map Habitat information Protected areas Economic constraints Environmental constraints Social constraints Planning phase Preconstruction surveys Strategic Environmental Assessment Preconstruction surveys Preconstruction surveys Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment Cumulative Impact Assessment
Strategic planning & assessment A multidisciplinary exercise: Identify areas with favourable wind resources Conflicting interest with other human activities Geotechnical, constructional and logistical restrictions Grid-connections Natural Environment Different levels: Flyway?! National Local
Strategic planning & Birds Must be based on qualified knowledge to identify the areas where production is maximized and environmental conflicts are minimized Requires good data on wind resources and species specific data on bird-migration activities on a relative scale (where are bird number high and where are they low) Understand what is regulating your migration system - topography is frequently important Migratory bottlenecks are of particular sensitivity and require specific consideration Choosing the proper scale is important (regional, national, crossboundary)
Strategic planning & assessment Ideally Areas of high wind farm potential that do not overlap with other constraints are the preferred locations for potential development Environmental constrains: Within SEA Separately through Sensitivity Map
Sensitivity Maps Sensitivity maps are management tools that quantify the importance of different areas for species conservation in relation to proposed developments Indication of where development is most likely to come into conflict with bird sensitivities Provide general orientation of areas of potentially high, medium or low risk for impacts NOT intended to replace a standard Environmental Impact Assessment
Sensitivity Maps Species Sensitivity & Exposure
Sensitivity Maps Very useful strategic planning tool, especially for: Developers National planning authorities Donor agencies Conservation organizations EIAs consultants
RV/RS Sensitivity Map Public access soaring birds sensitivity map web-tool
Case study Lessons from Egypt Strategic plan to produce 20% of its electric power from renewable sources by 2020. of which 12% contribution from wind energy = >7 GW 9000km² are allotted for wind energy development
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Wind Resources Study area Bird Atlas
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Autumn distribution Spring distribution
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Step 1 Gebel El Zait Gulf of Suez Sinai Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains u Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Step 1 Gebel El Zait Gulf of Suez Sinai On nearly 60% no Windpower Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains About 25% acceptable: green zone Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt More detaillied studies : yellow zone Recommendation to develop- KfW/EU-Windpark in green zone
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Step 2: Yellow Zone Gebel El Zait + 1000 MW-area Gulf of Suez Sinai Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Step 2: Yellow Zone Gebel El Zait + 1000 MW-area Gulf of Suez Sinai Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Step 3: Yellow Zone Gebel El Zait + 1000 MW-area + 1500 MW-area Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Sinai Gulf of Suez Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Do we see a pattern? If so, what does it reflect? An actual biological pattern? Gulf of Suez Sinai A reflection of the selected scale? An effect of selected methodologies? Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt
Case study Wind Farm planning at Gulf of Suez Choosing the appropriate scale and methodology for appropriate assessment Sinai Gulf of Suez Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal Gebal El El El El El El El El El Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt Zayt
Thank You Red Kite - Flickr - Tony Hisgett http://www.birdlife.org/migratorysoaringbirds/