Wildfires which devastated much of the Moray countryside in the north of Scotland last year have led to increased environmental benefits being proposed by Europe’s largest renewable energy producer.

Work on Statkraft’s proposed extension to the Berry Burn Wind Farm, near Forres, has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Project Award, at the Scottish Renewables ‘Green Energy Awards’. In April 2019, a catastrophic wildfire spread throughout the site causing damage to precious habitats and threatening the project all together. The fire burnt for over a week and it took some time to ensure that peat fires were extinguished, and safe access could be allowed.

Unfortunately, the habitats and vegetation across a large area - including the entire proposed extension area – were utterly devastated.

Experts from ecological consultancy Avian Ecology worked tirelessly to ensure the project could continue by working with NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) and the local community to find ways to restore and then enhance the biodiversity of the site.

Avian Ecology mapped out an engagement approach, with a high emphasis on early and on-going consultation with NatureScot to deliver an innovative habitat management plan that would bring a biodiversity net gain to the fire-damaged area, helping to turn around the catastrophe. In addition, they proposed measures to prevent the spreading of future wildfires, reducing the chance of such extensive damage reoccurring. The plan was carefully designed so as to provide improved peatland habitats for wildlife and carbon storage, providing clear benefits over and above those already in place for the operational Berry Burn Wind Farm.

That work has now been recognised for its quality with the shortlisting for the prestigious Green Energy Awards.

Mícheál Ó Broin, Senior Development Manager at Statkraft said: “Avian Ecology has exceeded our expectations. Their innovative ideas to minimise impacts to the natural environment is paramount in this industry as we work towards our ambitious net-zero target. We are delighted that this project partnership is getting the recognition it deserves.”

Howard Fearn, Director at Avian Ecology Limited said: “The devastating wildfire of April 2019 significantly impeded our normal process to survey and assess ecological impacts of the proposed extension. An entirely new approach was required, and we recognised this as an opportunity to increase the environmental benefits the project could deliver. It required innovative thinking and a close-working relationship with NatureScot. The wind farm extension would enable a significant biodiversity gain through improving peat habitats, accelerating recovery from fire damage and reducing damage from future wildfires.”

Due to Covid-19, this year’s Awards event will be held online on Thursday 26 November.

Local residents and community leaders have been notified of a new proposal that will help the UK achieve its target of zero carbon emissions by 2050. Located near the existing Neilston substation, the project is designed to maintain stable flows of energy through the network, helping to prevent power blackouts.

A consultation on the project will take place between 14 August - 11 September 2020, and will enable those interested to find out more and have their say before a planning application is submitted to Renfrewshire Council.

Project Manager Lucy Kent says: "We are confident that our dedicated project website will allow us to engage with the community prior to submitting a planning application, but for those who aren't able to access the website, we have provided options for contacting us by post or phone."

The power sector continues to lead efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland, according to the latest report from the Committee on Climate Change (External link)(CCC).

In its 2019 report to Parliament, the committee, an independent body set up to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets, said reductions must be made economy-wide to avoid missing those targets. Emissions fell by 3% in 2017, compared to a 10% drop the previous year.

Scotland is committed to becoming a net-zero society by 2045 - five years ahead of the rest of the UK. It has set targets to reduce emissions by 56% by this year and by 75% by 2030. The CCC has warned the targets will be extremely challenging to meet and much more needs to be done to drive reductions.

Statkraft aims to play its part in helping to achieve the aims with plans to invest £600 million on wind and solar projects in Scotland within the next five years.

Low-carbon electricity generation, from sources including wind and solar power, must increase by around 50% in the next decade alone to meet net zero targets.

The warning comes from the National Grid which also highlights the need to install low-carbon heating systems in 2.8 million homes and 60,000 charging points for electric vehicles over the next ten years. At the same time, carbon capture usage and storage technology and hydrogen networks will need to be developed.

In its report, Building the Net Zero Energy Workforce(External link), it says properly skilled workers will be required to transform the energy network. In Scotland alone, 48,700 jobs will have to be created to reach the UK target of net zero by 2050 – although the Scottish target is five years earlier.

Statkraft has an important role to play. Our commitment to invest £600 million in Scotland in the next five years will help reduce emissions and create new jobs.