The RSPB calls for more wind farms in the UK.

A new study conducted for the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) concluded that more wind turbines could be built without harming wildlife.

As a result of the study, the RSPB is encouraging the UK to build more onshore wind farms and calls on the government to ensure better and quicker decisions concerning wind turbines, while protecting the environment.

The RSPB commissioned the report from the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and found that the UK fell behind European counterparts in the drive for wind energy.

In 2007, only 2% of energy in the UK was generated by wind farms, far lower than the 29% in Denmark and the 20% in Spain. In the European league table for wind power per head of population, the UK comes behind Estonia and is only just ahead of Belgium.

The report presents various suggestions on how to protect wildlife and improve the delivery of wind power on a large scale, such as adopting a strategic approach to planning and providing greater benefits for communities near to wind farms. 

Ruth Davis, Head of Climate Change Policy at the RSPB, said: “The need for renewable energy could not be more urgent. Left unchecked, climate change threatens many species with extinction. Yet, that sense of urgency is not translating into action on the ground to harness the abundant wind energy around us.

“We need a clear lead from government on where wind farms should be built and clear guidance for local councils on how to deal with applications. We must reduce the many needless delays that beset wind farm developments.

“This report shows that if we get it right, the UK can produce huge amounts of clean energy without time-consuming conflicts and harm to our wildlife. Get it wrong and people may reject wind power. That would be disastrous.”