Balancing Renewable Energy and Nature

Earth Day 2025's theme "Our Power, Our Planet" emphasises the urgency of clean energy adoption to protect the Earth. Governments are setting ambitious renewable energy targets; the UK, for instance, aims for a fully decarbonised power system by 2035, predominantly from wind and solar. Expanding these sources is vital to combat climate change, but this renewable revolution must not harm ecosystems. The challenge lies in expanding renewables in harmony with nature.

The Promise of Wind and Solar Energy

Wind and solar power offer tremendous benefits, producing electricity without burning fossil fuels or causing emissions and air pollution. As solar panels and wind turbines have become cheaper, wind and solar are now the fastest-growing electricity sources globally, reaching 12% of worldwide power generation in 2022. In the UK, renewables supplied about 42% of the electricity mix in 2022, phasing out most coal power. Wind and solar farms have relatively small footprints and consume no fuel or water during operation, promising an energy system that can meet our needs while drastically reducing climate damage.

Environmental Criticisms

Wind and solar projects have faced environmental criticisms regarding impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. 

Wind turbines pose risks to birds and bats, potentially disturbing natural behavior or causing collisions. Large birds of prey (raptors) are particularly vulnerable to fatal strikes. In Scotland, dozens of protected raptors (e.g., golden eagles, ospreys) have been killed by turbine collisions in recent years. Bats are also affected, with an estimated average of around 14 bats killed per turbine each year at wind farms without mitigation. Wind farm construction can additionally lead to habitat loss or fragmentation, disrupting local flora and fauna.

Solar farms also face environmental criticisms. Large ground-mounted arrays require significant land, raising concerns about habitat loss and the use of valuable farmland for energy rather than food. Poorly designed solar farms can be stripped of vegetation and enclosed by fencing, reducing ecological value. Additionally, there are concerns about the environmental impact of mining for materials and the challenge of recycling solar panels and wind turbine components at end-of-life.

While wind and solar projects have faced environmental criticisms, many of these impacts are site-specific and can be mitigated with planning. NatureScot advises that well-sited wind farms have limited effects on birds, and research in England found that solar farms with habitat enhancements can support more biodiversity than the fields they replace. Location and design are key to addressing these concerns.

UK Regulations Overview – Protecting Nature in Renewable Development

The UK has regulations and policies to ensure wind and solar expansion safeguards the environment. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are required for large renewable projects, so developers must report potential impacts on wildlife and habitats before construction. Projects must also comply with wildlife protection laws – for example, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Habitats Regulations make it illegal to harm protected species or sites.  Scottish Planning Policy requires that the presence of protected species is considered in wind farm planning and design. Guidance in Scotland and Wales encourages a “nature-first” approach – wind turbines should be kept away from sensitive bird areas, and new solar farms are often directed toward lower-quality land. UK national policy now states that low-carbon infrastructure is a “critical priority” but also urges using brownfield or non-agricultural land for solar where possible​, to reduce pressure on ecosystems.

Devolved UK administrations have additional policies. Wales emphasises sensitive development of onshore wind and solar, integrating projects with the landscape and ecological networks. Public bodies in Wales must enhance biodiversity, affecting planning decisions. Scotland's Onshore Wind Sector Deal includes commitments to enhance biodiversity and optimise land use around wind projects. Across the UK, "biodiversity net gain" (BNG) is an emerging requirement. England's Environment Act 2021 mandates that most new developments leave nature in a better state, requiring a +10% net gain in biodiversity after construction. This incentivises developers to enhance biodiversity as part of their projects. While policies differ slightly, UK regulations require wind and solar to meet strict environmental standards, aligning renewable energy targets with wildlife and ecosystem protection.

International Best Practices and Biodiversity-Integrated Projects

Around the world, governments, researchers, and companies have been developing best practices to reduce the ecological footprint of renewables. There are growing examples of biodiversity-integrated renewable projects – wind and solar farms designed or retrofitted to support local ecosystems rather than degrade them. Below are a few notable case studies and strategies:

Altamont Pass Wind Farm (California, USA) – This old wind farm was notorious for killing thousands of birds, including up to 2,000 raptors, yearly. Mitigation efforts included replacing many small, fast-spinning turbines with fewer, taller, modern ones and curtailing operations during winter months. These changes cut raptor deaths by roughly 50% while maintaining energy output.

Lightsource BP is a solar energy developer that makes solar farms wildlife-friendly. They ensure a biodiversity net gain by planning solar parks with built-in nature reserves. These reserves include wildflower meadows, hedgerows, trees, bird nesting boxes, and bat roosts. They also use sheep grazing instead of mowing, allowing the land to support agriculture and pollinators. A UK study found that these solar farms hosted nearly three times as many birds as adjacent intensively farmed fields, providing refuge for declining species.

BayWa r.e., a European renewable energy developer, incorporates biodiversity into its solar farm projects. Recent projects in England include planting hedgerows and trees, enhancing grasslands with wildflowers, and maintaining grazing. One project aims for a 50% increase in local habitat value. BayWa r.e. demonstrates that solar farms can benefit nature.

Renewable energy projects can lessen their ecological impact through planning, innovation, and collaboration. These include altering turbine configurations to reduce bird collisions, managing solar farm vegetation for wildlife, or committing to net biodiversity gain.

Key Risks and Mitigation Strategies

Even with best practices, some risks to ecosystems from wind and solar remain. Addressing these issues requires a mix of smart planning and mitigation measures:

Careful Siting: The most effective way to mitigate environmental impact is by choosing the right location for renewable projects. Developers use mapping and ecological surveys to avoid key wildlife areas. Wind farms should be located away from bird migration paths, breeding sites, and bat corridors. In the UK, for example, developers consult organisations like NatureScot and RSPB for data on bird territories and migration routes, and are expected to locate turbines such that they “avoid the most sensitive areas for nature”. Solar farms should be placed on low-value land to minimise habitat loss. Government “energy mapping” can identify zones for renewable expansion with low ecological impact.

Design and Technology Solutions: Engineering tweaks can mitigate wildlife impacts. Painting one turbine blade black reduces bird collisions by up to 70%, and ultrasonic deterrents or higher cut-in speeds lessen bat fatalities. Modern turbine designs also lower bird risks. For solar, anti-reflective coatings and spacing rows prevent bird confusion. Maintaining or restoring habitat within and around energy sites further softens environmental impact.

Operational Mitigation: Curtailment protocols temporarily shut down turbines during high-risk periods for wildlife, such as peak bird migration. Bird detection systems using radar or cameras with AI can trigger shutdowns when flocks approach. Seasonal curtailment is used for bats, turning off turbines on low-wind summer nights when they're most active. These targeted pauses minimally affect energy output but significantly reduce wildlife deaths. Regular environmental monitoring helps operators adapt and improve coexistence with local wildlife.

Policy and Community Engagement: Regulations and stakeholder involvement are crucial for mitigating environmental impacts. Policies like the UK's biodiversity net gain requirement ensure developers prioritise wildlife protection.Government and NGO guidelines provide science-based methods for impact assessment and mitigation – for example, Scottish Natural Heritage has standard protocols for multi-year bird surveys and collision risk modeling for proposed wind farms. Early community engagement identifies concerns and enables adjustments to project plans. Compensatory measures, like habitat creation, can offset unavoidable impacts. Transparent communication about the actual impacts of renewables fosters rational decision-making and public support for wildlife-friendly projects.

By avoiding ecological hotspots, designing smarter infrastructure, curbing operations during sensitive moments, and upholding strict environmental standards, it is possible to greatly reduce negative impacts on ecosystems.

As we celebrate Earth Day 2025, it’s clear that scaling up renewable energy is essential for a sustainable future. Wind and solar power are our tools – our “power” – to fight climate change, which is itself one of the greatest threats to global ecosystems. Yet, the ethos of Earth Day reminds us that climate solutions should go hand in hand with protecting life on our planet. Renewable energy must not come at the expense of biodiversity.