THE IMPACT OF WIND ENERGY ON WILDIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

July 25, 2019

This publication focuses on a topic that has previously been a taboo for policymakers, but also for nature conservation organisations in Germany. The environmentally destructive effects of renewable energies has never been widely discussed – mainly because they are seen as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Renewable energy is generally regarded as being a good thing in itself. I can judge this from my own experience. I was in a leading position in the renewable energy industry for 12 years and commissioned many thousands of megawatts of wind and biomass power plants. Their environmental impact was never a real issue. More recently, however, the negative effects of rapeseed and corn monocultures for the production of biofuel and biogas have become evident, as has the impact of slashing and burning rainforests for the production of palm oil. Even the environmental impact of hydropower has become widely known.

Spotlight

WISE

Welcome to the Women in Solar Energy (WISE) community. WISE is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 network that promotes diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the solar energy industry. WISE was founded in 2012 to provide a more robust network within the solar energy industry to ensure that women are engaged across the spectrum of solar industry opportunities to maximum potential. The solar energy industry is growing 20x faster than the typical US economy, we believe this is a fantastic opportunity for women and minorities to get engaged and develop challenging and rewarding careers.

OTHER WHITEPAPERS
news image

Energy Transition in PJM:Resource Retirements, Replacements & Risks

whitePaper | February 24, 2023

Driven by industry trends and their associated challenges, PJM developed the following strategic pillars to ensure an efficient and reliable energy transition: facilitating decarbonization policies reliably and cost-effectively; planning/operating the grid of the future; and fostering innovation.

Read More
news image

Spring 2023 Solar Industry Update

whitePaper | April 27, 2023

The median reported price by EnergySage for residential PV systems increased 6.3% y/y to $2.85/Wdc – the third straight period of increase, after never having done so before. After plunging to a 1.5-year low of $20/kg in mid-January, global polysilicon spot prices rebounded to $30/kg in mid-February and then dropped to $24/kg by mid-April.

Read More
news image

A KEY CONCEPT FOR ACCELERATING THE ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

whitePaper | December 16, 2022

The successful achievement of the objectives set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement requires a rapid transformation of energy systems across the globe towards high shares and eventually 100% renewable energy. As a growing number of countries announce ambitious pledges and actions to phase out fossil fuels and enact policies in line with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier, renewable energy will need to play a dominant role across all sectors.

Read More
news image

Is the sun shining on new energy sources?

whitePaper | January 27, 2020

Although the European Union (EU) seems to be on track to meet this year’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target of 20% compared to 1990 levels, it is currently not projected to achieve the 2030 targets. In line with the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015, these targets relate to domestic GHG emissions, the share of renewable energy sources and energy efficiencyi . Hence, radical change is required and we all need to do our bit. With road transport accounting for approximately 20% of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions in the EU alone, the mobility sector can play an important role in helping to accomplish the environmental targets.

Read More
news image

Better Plants 2021 Progress Update

whitePaper | October 27, 2021

As of October 2021, more than 250 companies have partnered with DOE in the Better Plants Program and Challenge. The Better Plants 2021 Progress Update reports that, to date, partners have saved more than $9 billion dollars and 1.9 quadrillion Btus of energy. Over 60 partners have met their initial energy reduction goals, and many have gone on to set new goals with the U.S Department of Energy. In 2021, twenty new companies joined the program, seven Better Plants partners achieved their energy intensity reduction goals and three partners that previously achieved their energy-intensity reduction goals repledged with new goals.

Read More
news image

Onsite Major Component Replacement Technologies for Floating Offshore Wind: the Status of the Industry

whitePaper | February 12, 2023

Amidst the rapid developments the floating offshore wind industry is experiencing, this white paper intends to build a preliminary classification of floating wind heavy maintenance concept types under development. Through a high-level comparative assessment of assigned crane families and an overarching discussion on strategy considerations, this white paper hopes to inform the decision processes of key stakeholders in the field. The findings from this work feed into the wider discussions of WFO’s Floating Offshore Wind Committee (FOWC), where the insurability and bankability perspective reflects on the challenges of floating wind and the new technologies that aim to solve them. These cross-discipline conversations remind us of the need to balance cost reductions and safety measures to preserve the risk perception of floating wind technologies, especially for the first commercial-scale projects.

Read More

Spotlight

WISE

Welcome to the Women in Solar Energy (WISE) community. WISE is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 network that promotes diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the solar energy industry. WISE was founded in 2012 to provide a more robust network within the solar energy industry to ensure that women are engaged across the spectrum of solar industry opportunities to maximum potential. The solar energy industry is growing 20x faster than the typical US economy, we believe this is a fantastic opportunity for women and minorities to get engaged and develop challenging and rewarding careers.

Events