This document summarizes the challenges of developing wind energy in Ireland while protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. It outlines Ireland's renewable energy targets and the impacts wind farms can have on bird and bat populations through collision, avoidance of turbine areas, and noise pollution. Spatial analyses are presented showing the potential viable wind areas inside and outside protected designations. Key gaps in understanding the cumulative impacts and potential mitigation are identified, calling for more research on population-level effects and identification of critical habitats like migration corridors.

1. Sustainable development of wind energy in
Ireland – challenges of biodiversity and
ecosystem services.
David Bourke
Ainhoa González, Nova Sharkey, Jesko Zimmermann, John McCann, and Jane Stout

2. Outline
• Energy policy
• Impacts on biodiversity
– National/international literature
– Spatial analyses
• Key gaps/research questions

3. Policy Drivers
“Directive on the promotion of the use
of energy from renewable sources”

4. How will we meet the 2020 Renewable Energy targets?
Wind
Wave
Biomass
2041 MW of installed wind capacity
– 174 onshore (1 offshore – 25 MW)
SEAI Report (2011) “Energy Forecasts for Ireland to 2020”.

5. (EEA, 2009)

6. Impacts on Species & Habitats
• Birds & Bats
– Collision
– Avoidance (energetic costs)
– Birds of prey, upland & waterbirds
– Migration routes Bird Watch Ireland
– Barotrauma - bats
• Cetaceans/marine communities
– Noise, habitat loss, collisions, habitat creation
• Habitat disturbance, fragmentation
NPWS
Baerwald et al. (2008)
(Inger et al., 2009; Maar et al., 2009) (Drewitt and Langston, 2006; Stewart et al. , 2007; Masden et al. 2010)

7. Effects on birds are variable and context specific.
BirdWatch Ireland BirdWatch Ireland
Pearse-Higgins et al. (2012)

8. Q. How much viable wind do we have inside and outside of
designated areas?
70,000
Designated
60,000
Non designated
Area Con > 7m/s (km2)
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
50m 75m 100m
Turbine Hub Height
Bourke et al. (in prep)

9. Q. Can we meet renewable energy targets without developing
designated areas?
70,000
Designated
60,000
Non designated ~4000 MW
Q. Height v Density?
Area Con > 7m/s (km2)
50,000
40,000
30,000 •Impacts different species 5 – 10 MW/km2
20,000 •Turbine footprint reduced
10,000 400 to 800km2
0
50m 75m 100m
Turbine Hub Height
Bourke et al. (in prep)

10. Q. Where are wind farms located and planned in the future?
Q. Is the density of wind farm development a problem and is it in
the “right or wrong places”?
Bourke et al. (in prep)

11. Future Challenges (1)
• Adequate evidence to provide sound advise
• More publishing of data
• Inaccessible grey literature/internal reports
• Many gaps in our knowledge
– Fundamental ecological understanding
– Impacts on species?
– Impacts on habitats?

12. Stack's to Mullaghareirk Mountains, West
Future Challenges (2) Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle SPA
Multiple stressors &
cumulative effects
• Development (e.g.
wind farms, roads)
• Climate change
• Land-use change
• Invasive species
• Habitat loss
Future Challenges (3)
• Planning
• Assessment
• Monitoring
Photo: RSPB Images/Andy Hay/PA Wire

13. Key areas for future research
• Bird/bat sensitivity maps
• Population-level impacts
• Species specific studies
• Identification of migration routes/corridors and
stepping stones of bats in Ireland
• Cumulative effects
• Preliminary research into impacts on marine
species and habitats

14. bourkedo@tcd.ie
Thanks to
Ms Soledad Colombe
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
BirdWatch Ireland
EirGrid
Special thanks to the SIMBIOSYS Team
and the EPA for funding.
Bird Watch Ireland