EU（European Union）が、風力発電の開発と生物多様性を確保するための環境ガイドラインを発表した。すでに風力発電の地上での導入のピークは越えたともいわれる欧州で、欧州全体の生物多様性を確保するために定められている開発のためにも利用される環境ガイドライン「ナチュラ2000」との整合性をさぐりつつ、EU規模の自然保護区内でも風力発電を利用するための規範が明確にさだめられた。このタイミングが興味深い。
エネルギー総消費量の20％を再生可能エネルギーでまかなうとするヨーロッパユニオン EU は、さらにトータルな価値の中で、明確に評価しておくということなのだろうか？
実際の風力発電は、環境保護や住民との軋轢が少ない、洋上開発へと2020年までの風車導入目標の中で比重を移していくと考えられます。しかし、2020年20%の目標の達成のためには、さらに地上・洋上風車の建設も必要となります。
今回のガイドラインでは、ナチュラ2000という環境アセスのプラットフォームの中で、風車導入の可否を合理的、かつ迅速に進めようとする意図がある一方で、ゾーニングによる地域評価により、環境保護や住民との軋轢を可能な限り少なくするという意図も感じられます。
日本でも、風力発電はすでに環境と住民との軋轢により、立地はよりむずかしくなってきています。そんな中で、日本でもガイドライン作りが検討されてもいます。付け焼刃ではなく、国土、風土、生活、農林業など全体のマップ、ゾーニングを始めるべきだとおもいます。このガイドライン、慎重に読んでいきたいとおもいます。
プレスリリース / EUROPA(The official website of the European Union),29 October 2010
・Guidelines to reconcile wind energy development and biodiversity policy
" While in general terms wind energy does not represent a threat to wildlife, poorly sited or designed wind farms can have a negative impact on vulnerable species and habitats. That's why the European Commission has published today guidelines for wind energy development in protected natural areas. The guidelines apply to the Natura 2000 network, a cornerstone of EU biodiversity policy and a key tool to achieve the EU target of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2020. Wind energy has an important role to play in meeting the EU target of 20% renewable energy in Europe’s total energy consumption by 2020, and its deployment in Natura 2000 areas is not automatically excluded. But such developments need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Janez Poto?nik, European Commissioner for the Environment said: “These new guidelines will give Member States and industry clarity regarding the undertaking of wind energy development activities in accordance with Natura 2000 requirements. There is no change of legislation or policy, but merely guidance on existing law. Our aim is to ensure that renewable energy targets are met while fully respecting EU law on species protection."
Strategic planning is key
The guidelines published today are aimed at avoiding conflict between wind energy development and biodiversity conservation in Natura 2000 protected areas. They highlight the importance of strategic planning and the need for good quality appropriate assessment of new developments. The guidelines contain examples of best practice, and show how wind energy developments can avoid damage to nature sensitive areas.
Planning wind farm developments in a strategic manner over a broad geographical area is one of the most effective means of minimising the impacts of wind farms on nature and wildlife from the start of the planning process. It not only leads to a more integrated development framework but should also reduce the risk of difficulties and delays at later stages at the level of individual projects.
Background
Europe has set itself a target of obtaining 20% of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, and wind energy is destined to make a significant contribution to achieving that goal. Wind energy also helps to substantially reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, as well as freshwater consumption associated with conventional power generation in the EU. Wind energy has grown rapidly over the last decade, and in 2009 it accounted for some 4.8% of the EU’s total electricity consumption. This is expected to at least triple by 2020.
Natura 2000 is an EU-wide ecological network of nearly 26 000 sites in the 27 EU countries, established under the 1992 Habitats Directive and covering almost 18% of the EU’s land area. The aim of the network is to assure the conservation and sustainable use of areas of high biodiversity value and long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. Natura 2000 is not a system of strict nature reserves where all human activities are excluded. Whereas the network will certainly include nature reserves, most of the land is likely to continue to be privately-owned and the emphasis will be on ensuring that future management is sustainable, both ecologically and economically.
.......... "
関連
-EU Wind energy policy
・European commission : Energy-Wind Energy
-Guidance on wind energy and Natura 2000
・European Commission : Environment - Nature & Biodiversity / Wind energy developments and Natura 2000(PDF,A4-P.116,October 2010)[//ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/
management/docs/Wind_farms.pdf]
-----image : 「Wind energy developments and Natura 2000」カバー
-EU nature and biodiversity Policy
・European Commission : Environment - Nature & Biodiversity / Natura 2000
-----image : 「Natura 2000 viewer」サイト
" Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe's most valuable species and habitats. Natura 2000 is based on the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive. The green infrastructure it provides safeguards numerous ecosystem services and ensures that Europe's natural systems remain healthy and resilient. "
・EU、風力エネルギー開発と生物多様性保全の両立を図るガイドラインを発表-----環境展望台、2010.10.29
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