Meeting Europe's renewable energy targets in harmony with - RSPB

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NATIONAL AND EU POLICY MAKERS 111
development of onshore wind power.
3 Delay further promotion of the biomass heat
and power sector until research trials and
experience have better identified how to source
biomass sustainably.
4 Deliver against Wallonia’s ambitious targets for
creation of protected areas, including for large
forest reserves with natural ecosystem
functioning.
5 To compensate for impacts of grid expansion to
accommodate renewables, continue to
encourage grid operators to identify sections of
power lines that create risks for birds and to
add mitigation devices.
6 Promote undergrounding of power lines in
Natura 2000 areas where this is compatible with
conservation objectives.
7 Investigate the potential to repower wind farms
and promote this if it can significantly increase
output.
8 Fund the development of bird sensitivity maps
and ensure they are used in regional and local
spatial planning for renewables.
9 Review experience so far in dealing with
renewable energy planning applications, and
issue guidance on good practice for developers
and planning authorities.
5.3.2
BULGARIA
The “Via Pontica”, one of the two most important
migratory flyways for birds in Europe, passes
through the Kaliakra region on the Black Sea coast
in Bulgaria. Kaliakra contains one of the last
remnants of the unique steppe habitats in the EU
and some of the largest coastal cliffs. Thousands of
birds travelling from Europe to Africa and the
Middle East – including the white stork and pallid
harrier – stop at Kaliakra to roost or forage. The
globally threatened red-breasted goose
overwinters at the site. BirdLife is very concerned
about uncontrolled development in this region for
tourism and wind power.
Bulgaria plans to increase its renewable energy
share from 9.4% in 2005 to 16% in 2020. In 2020
852 ktoe more energy from renewables will be
consumed than in 2005. Almost half of this increase
(424 ktoe) will come from use of biomass for heat
and electricity. Bulgaria is also planning significant
growth in its onshore wind power industry, and to
have sufficient additional capacity installed by 2020
to provide 194 ktoe of renewable energy. Bulgaria
also has ambitious energy efficiency plans, and
aims to keep total energy consumption
approximately constant to 2020.
BSPB – BirdLife Bulgaria recommends the following
key policy changes:
1 Develop policies and implementation plans to
achieve the ambitious energy efficiency target.
2 Ensure development of the onshore wind
industry, under the new rules introduced in
spring 2011, is orderly and sustained.
3 Prioritise, and increase incentives for,
installation of solar PV on roofs, in urban areas,
and on land with low biodiversity value.
4 Extend current work on sensitivity of birds to
wind farm development to address other species
and other forms of renewable energy.
5 Develop a national spatial plan for renewables
using SEA and sensitivity maps for birds and
other biodiversity, and for all forms of renewable
energy. Ensure all regions and local authorities
develop spatial planning for renewables.
6 Develop and implement management plans for
all Natura 2000 areas as a matter of urgency.
Commit to not using biomass produced in
Natura 2000 areas except where this is specified
in management plans for the conservation of
these areas.
7 Ensure robust application of “appropriate
assessment” procedures for developments in
Natura 2000 areas by making assessment
experts more independent of the developer, and
requiring employment of different assessment
professionals if work is repeatedly inadequate.
8 Change legislation to allow authorities to refuse
consent for the most damaging proposals, or
where EIAs are clearly inaccurate or inadequate.
Improve the working of the “expert councils”
who vote on planning consents, to make them
more independent from investors’ interests.
9 Prevent use of “ecological assessment of plans
and projects” (SEA) for major developments that
should be subject to more detailed EIA. Make
SEA and EIA consultants independent of their
clients by making payments indirect. Introduce
a “three strikes” rule whereby inadequate
assessment reports can be returned to the same