Browsing by Subject "wind power"
Now showing items 1-2 of 2
-
(2023)The aim of this study was to identify which bird impact types are considered significant in practice in Finnish environmental assessment reports regarding wind power. Increasing numbers of wind turbines can impact birds directly and indirectly, which could contribute to the loss of bird diversity. Amid climate change mitigation attempts, biodiversity loss should not be overlooked. Environmental impact assessment is an example of a policy tool for identifying and reducing the negative environmental effects of a project, including bird impacts. All wind power-related EIA reports with significant bird impacts were collected from the joint website of Finland’s environmental administration and analyzed with the help of qualitative content analysis. The 18 cases were divided according to the types of impacts found in the literature. Although all four impact types including collisions, displacement due to disturbance, barrier effect, and habitat change were considered significant in the EIAs, collisions were the most frequent. Very little comparable data about the significance of different impact types were found. However, collisions were the most researched impact type, which could have also contributed to the evaluation of its significance. The results corresponded to previous literature for the most part as Accipitriformes (diurnal birds of prey excluding falcons), according to several studies, are more vulnerable to the impacts of wind turbines. They were estimated to face significant impacts more often compared to other bird orders present in the materials. The reasonings between the cases were quite similar, despite the ambiguity of the significance assessment. In the cases where the reason for significance was stated, the level of protection of the species was the most common. The results also support the argument about how the impact type, the object of the impact, and the significance of an impact vary depending on the locations. The findings of this thesis suggest that scientific data is used at least partially in significance assessments. The results are useful in future research, developing EIA practices, and enhancing bird protection. Looking at significant impacts is relevant also in the future as the assessment of significance is not uncomplicated.
-
(2024)The demand for CO2-free electricity will grow in the future, which is expected to lead to an increase in onshore wind power capacity. Like all energy forms, wind power can have negative impacts on the environment, which can pose different risks for wind power companies. Several companies that have wind power in their portfolio have recently committed to biodiversity targets, typically aiming for no net loss or net positive impact on biodiversity. These targets are expected to be a possible avenue for competitive advantage, however, there is a research gap on whether biodiversity considerations can bring competitive advantage to companies. In my research, executed as a paid assignment for Fortum Renewables Oy, I examine wind power investors’ perceptions of biodiversity targets and whether they perceive that the targets can bring competitive advantage to wind power companies. In this thesis, I aim to provide answers to three primary research questions: 1) How do investors manage their investments’ biodiversity impacts? 2) Can setting biodiversity targets bring competitive advantage to wind power companies? and 3) What kind of biodiversity targets do investors value? For this research I interviewed investors known to invest in onshore wind power in Finland. I conducted seven interviews with eight informants, including both finance and sustainability professionals, representing seven different investors. I analysed the interview data using inductive thematic analysis provided by Braun and Clarke (2006). My research found that investors identify several possibilities for both risk mitigation and competitive advantage, which can be achieved through good biodiversity management. Thus, investors see value in biodiversity considerations, such as biodiversity targets. Simultaneously, investors recognised several issues regarding these targets, which hinder achieving competitive advantage through them. The findings of my research may prove useful both for companies that have or aim to set biodiversity targets and investors wanting to manage their investments’ biodiversity impacts.
Now showing items 1-2 of 2