Wind industry releases guidelines on sustainability

BONN, Germany, 2004-06-30 (Refocus Weekly)

The wind energy industry is developing guidelines for windfarms around the world that will promote greater consideration of environmental, social and economic factors.

The World Wind Energy Association says the process is a “key renewable energy industry initiative” that recognizes the importance of ensuring environmental sustainability in the development of renewable energy generation. The group, which represents 150 members from 56 countries, says it is important to have “universal and uniform guidelines” which overlay local requirements for installation of wind turbines.

The draft document, ‘Sustainability & Due Diligence Guidelines,’ says wind energy is the second largest green power source after hydropower, and there is a need to extend the approach of sustainability to apply to wind generation. The hydropower industry recently took steps to increase the sustainability of its technology.

“The draft guidelines are currently under review by our members,” says president Preben Maegaard. “In the final guidelines will be a complementary compliance protocol to form a checklist for developers, regulators and planners.”

The initiative is a contribution from WWEA to the international conference on renewables held recently in Germany, and “promotes concrete action by the industry to ensure responsible and sustainable approaches to the global development of wind resources,” he explains.

“The draft guidelines will be widely published to all sectors of the renewables industry and interested organizations with an invitation to comment,” adds secretary general Stefan Gsänger. “We hope that all sectors of the industry will adopt a similar approach so that the guidelines can have truly universal application.”


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