By Alice Collier, Policy Officer
You may have seen an RSPB news article earlier in the year about the imminent construction of a wind turbine at the RSPB’s headquarters in Sandy, in partnership with Ecotricity. Well, the turbine is now up and running!
I’m new to the team and working here at The Lodge it’s really great to know that our electricity needs are being met by renewable energy. In fact, the 100 metre tall wind turbine will generate around two million units of green energy every year, equivalent to over half of the electricity the RSPB uses across its 127 UK locations.
The Lodge turbine in action
Having the turbine up and running is very exciting for our team because of what it stands for - renewable energy in harmony with nature.
Climate change poses the single biggest long-term threat to birds and wildlife. Our latest report on climate change shows that impacts on birds and other wildlife in the UK are already starting to occur, and research involving RSPB scientists published in March shows that similar impacts are affecting species in the United States and across Europe.
Transitioning to 100% clean electricity is vital to solving the problem of climate change, and we believe in backing our words with actions. The Lodge turbine is part of the RSPB’s efforts to align reduction of the organisations carbon emissions with the Climate Change Act 2008, which includes a legal duty for 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emission by 2050. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 600 tonnes every year – another step in helping to protect nature for future generations.
Although we need to deploy high levels of renewable energy to combat climate change, it is important that we do so with local, not just global, wildlife in mind. The location of renewable energy projects should always be carefully considered, and based on solid evidence of the potential impacts on wildlife. That’s why the RSPB undertook three years of detailed ecological and environmental research to confirm that Sandy Ridge was a suitable site for a wind turbine. Additionally, bat detectors have been installed in the turbine so that it will not operate at wind speeds, and during times of the day and year that bats are more likely to be active around the turbine.
Later this month, we will be publishing a report showing how the UK can transition to renewable energy and meet its 2050 climate targets in harmony with nature. We hope that it will provoke discussion and action around this critical issue. It’s a big challenge, but one that we think this country can meet.
Matt Williams, Assistant Warden, RSPB Snape.