Leading European ecological consultancies form a strategic partnership to support the responsible development of renewable energy while protecting nature.
PARIS, FRANCE (21 June 2024) – A new European consortium has been formed to provide premier ecological research and consultancy services for renewable energy projects across the continent. The European Renewable Energy & Wildlife Consortium (ERWC) proudly brings together several of Europe's leading ecological consultancies with extensive expertise in wind and solar energy development and its impacts on wildlife. The main goal is to enable responsible renewable energy development while protecting nature.
The ERWC founding members include Waardenburg Ecology and its subsidiary BESE (the Netherlands), Écosphère and its subsidiaries TBM Environment and Somme (France), Oikon and its co-partner Supernatural (Croatia), and Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC) and its subsidiary Marine Biodiversity Surveys - MBS (Greece). Through this unique strategic partnership, the companies will take collaboration on renewable energy studies to the next level, exchange knowledge and staff, establish uniform quality standards and research protocols, and offer a cohesive Europe-wide strategy. They are dedicated to advancing renewable energy projects while ensuring high standard and effective wildlife protection and ecological research.
“With the rapid growth of offshore wind and other renewable developments across Europe, there is a critical need for high-quality ecological research and consulting and international collaboration” said Dr Wouter Lengkeek, Scientific Director of Waardenburg Ecology, which will serve as the ERWC's administrative hub. “By combining our skills and experience, the ERWC can ensure these vital energy projects and uphold the highest standards for assessing and mitigating ecological impacts.”
The ERWC will provide significant benefits for the responsible deployment of renewable energy. This is essential for meeting climate goals and biodiversity ambitions. It will implement consistent standards to evaluate and mitigate environmental impacts on wildlife and biodiversity while establishing Europe-wide quality benchmarks for ecological research related to energy projects. In addition to combining their firms' technical capabilities and specialist knowledge, the ERWC partners see opportunities to pursue larger renewable energy contracts requiring international experience and resources. Opportunities matching their companies' purpose and helping them to reach their ambitious goals as leading ecologists.