Sustainably reconciling offshore renewable energy with Natura 2000 sites: An interim adaptive management framework

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 129; pp. 491 - 501
• Main Author: Le Lièvre, Célia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptive management; Appropriate assessment; Biodiversity; Biodiversity conservation; Conservation; Ecosystems; Energy; Energy management; Energy policy; Evaluation; Habitats; Judiciary; Marine ecosystems; Marine environment; Offshore; Offshore renewable energy; Precautionary principle; Principles; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Resilience; Scientific uncertainty; Uncertainty; Wildlife conservation; Biodiversity conservation; Scientific uncertainty; Appropriate assessment; Adaptive management; Precautionary principle; Offshore renewable energy
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.02.007

The nascent nature of offshore renewable energy (ORE) technologies coupled with the existence of considerable data gaps and uncertainty on the receiving marine environment demands a paradigm shift in our approach to assessing and managing the impacts of the ORE sector on marine Natura 2000 sites. This paper investigates how the ecosystem-based principles of resilience and adaptive management can be best applied under the appropriate assessment process of the Habitats Directive to reconcile the increasing demand for offshore renewables and biodiversity conservation. In so doing, it challenges the strict interpretation of the precautionary principle which has been crystallised by the EU judiciary under the regime of Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and suggests embracing adaptive management as a better methodology to enhance the outcomes of the appropriate assessment in the face of uncertain impacts on Natura 2000 sites and their qualifying features. The aim of this study is solution-based: it seeks to improve the implementation of the assessment procedure of the Habitats Directive before it truly becomes an ‘obstacle course’ for offshore renewable energy developers. •Offshore renewables are rapidly growing with uncertain impacts on Natura 2000 sites.•A science-based precautionary principle is necessary under the Habitats Directive.•Recommendations for improved implementation of the appropriate assessment process.•Adaptive management reconciling offshore renewables and biodiversity conservation.