Biodiversity + Renewables
Aims to deliver better outcomes in the intersection between biodiversity and renewable energy.
Why this matters
Both the conservation and energy sectors recognise the importance of managing and minimising environmental impacts from renewable energy projects. Business-as-usual presents risks, both to the environment and to social licence for a rapid rollout of renewable energy projects (i.e. energy generation, storage and transmission development). Effective collaboration between environmental and energy organisations may greatly reduce, and in some cases eliminate, these risks.
It is for these reasons that we worked collaboratively with RE-Alliance to create a platform for collaboration for energy and environmental leaders in Queensland to support and encourage continual improvement in planning and delivering better practice environmental outcomes at all stages of renewable energy projects’ life cycles.
Impact
Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide
This Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide showcases several environmental interventions at every stage of renewable energy project development, from energy system design to end-of-life. It outlines some of what is possible through case studies and identifies opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
Following a series of environment and energy cross-sector workshops in Queensland hosted by RE-Alliance and Powerlink Queensland, our Better Practice Guide was developed with over 30 collaborators from the environmental and energy sectors.
Our #BetterTogether Biodiversity + Renewables initiative was created to deliver better outcomes in the intersection between biodiversity and renewable energy. To achieve this, RE-Alliance and The Energy Charter collaborated to:
- Build a container for safe discussion and genuine relationships between conservation groups, environmental groups, energy businesses and renewable developers in Queensland
- Develop a shared understanding of the risks and opportunities in the intersection between biodiversity and renewable energy infrastructure through a series of ongoing workshops
- Sharing diverse perspectives across the collaborators
- Co-design a Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity Guide.
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This Guide maps a way for environmental groups and energy businesses to work together. It’s mapping a way to draw people in and say we can’t do this if we’re not in it together … we’ve got to find solutions together. When we’re trying to work out how to build energy infrastructure, we’ve also got to put on “nature goggles” and say “where should we build this and where shouldn’t we?
Dave Copeman, Director, Queensland Conservation Council
Collaborators
Community Outcomes Group
As well as a broad range of conservation and environmental groups including:
- Queensland Conservation Council
- WWF Australia
- The Sunrise Project
- Beyond Zero Emissions
- The Next Economy
- Terrain NRM.
Industry Collaborators
The Energy Charter Signatories:
- Energy Estate
- Powerlink Queensland.
Together with non-Signatories:
- CleanCo Queensland
- CS Energy
- Energy Queensland
- Stanwell.
Resources
In August 2022, RE-Alliance, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC), The Energy Charter and Powerlink Queensland conducted a kick-off workshop in Brisbane for environmental and energy industry leaders to come together and explore the challenges and opportunities associated with renewables and nature in the energy transition.
Two working groups were formed with two collaborative workstreams, including:
- Mapping project: to synthesise environmental and energy network information to determine optimal regions for low-impact renewable development. This workstream is led by CAFNEC and the Queensland Conservation Council.
- Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity Guide: created through a codesign process with environmental and renewable energy sector stakeholders to inform where the opportunities for collaboration around better practice can be found. This workstream is led by RE-Alliance and the Energy Charter.
In-person launch
Following a series of environment and energy cross-sector workshops in Queensland hosted by RE-Alliance, the Energy Charter and Powerlink Queensland, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide on 27 February 2024!
We’re proud to have partnered with RE-Alliance to launch the Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide alongside Andrew Bray, the National Director at RE-Alliance and Dave Copeman, the Director at Queensland Conservation Council, at the Energy Charter’s National Landholder Engagement Training. An event that brings local landholders, conservation and environmental groups, renewable energy developers and energy businesses together to share insights and tools for better practice.
Online launch
We were also excited for the online launch of the Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity Collaboration Guide on 26 March 2024. Joining the discussion was Dave Copeman, Lu Allan from RE-Alliance, Rosie King from Energy Estate, Kiara Bowles from Powerlink Queensland and our CEO, Sabiene Heindl.
In this online event, we heard more about the Opportunities for Collaboration Guide, the collaborative efforts of Queensland environmental and conservation group representatives and energy businesses as well as a more detailed conversation about the purpose and application of the Guide. Watch the recording below.
This #BetterTogether initiative aligns with:
Principle 3: We will provide energy safely, sustainably and reliably.
Learn more
Speak to Sabiene Heindl, CEO, to learn more about the #BetterTogether Biodiversity + Renewables initiative.