Services for Renewables Sector

ECOSA has been involved in a number of successful renewable energy projects in the UK, including Sixpenny Wind Farm in Yorkshire and Yelvertoft Wind Farm in Leicestershire. ECOSA are currently working on a major offshore wind farm development. We have also carried out a range of ecology surveys and assessments for photovoltaic farms in the UK.

To gain planning permission, renewable energy schemes must overcome any significant ecological impacts or these impacts must clearly be outweighed by the environmental, social or economic benefits of the development.

We are adept at carrying out due diligence surveys for assessing ecological risk at the site selection stage. Ecological assessment for wind farm developments include standard Phase 1 habitat surveys and often detailed assessments of protected species. We carry out bat surveys employing Natural England guidance which involves a range of survey techniques including roost visits and activity surveys to assess the importance of a site for bats. In addition, surveyors may need to deploy remote monitoring equipment to assess the usage of bats at a site over a longer timeframe. We have used a range of innovative survey techniques to assess the level of bat activity at a site including the deployment of helium balloons and telemasts on which to deploy bat detectors. We have extensive experience of carrying out bird surveys following standard survey guidance. This has included the use of vantage point surveys using Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) methods and transect survey methods. We also have considerable experience of assessing the impact of wind farm developments using SNH collision risk modelling.

Our experienced surveyors are trained and certified in the Joint Nature Conservancy Council ‘European Seabirds at Sea’ (ESAS) survey methods used for off-shore wind farm projects and we have extensive experience of seabird identification and recording. Our surveyors are qualified Marine Mammal Officers (MMO’s) with appropriate survival training and have extensive knowledge of sea mammal ecology and identification.

Please call to speak with an ecologist about your renewable energy project. Our survey timetable may also be helpful for the scheduling of ecology surveys.