Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain in development projects
Biodiversity Net Gain: The importance of monitoring
Every development site has an intrinsic ‘biodiversity value’, which is determined by a wide range of factors including the type, condition and distinctiveness of the habitat. By quantifying the biodiversity value of a site pre- and post-development, we can better understand the impact of the development on biodiversity, whether positive or negative. Importantly, this provides insight into the most effective ways of mitigating biodiversity losses and maximising biodiversity gains.
To achieve the goal of leaving the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was found, SSEN Transmission initially developed a project-level toolkit to quantify pre- and post-development biodiversity value, alongside a site optioneering toolkit to model the impact on biodiversity from different site decisions. The toolkits have now been applied to a number of new developments, including our Kintore substation in Aberdeenshire, our HVDC switching station at Noss in Caithness and as part of the development of a new substation and overhead line upgrades at Rothienorman.
These toolkits, based on the Defra Metric (which is now at version 4.0) used in England and Wales, we developed further over 2022/23 to recognise the typical habitat types, in particular peatland, encountered by SSE Renewables in developing large-scale onshore assets predominately in Scotland and Ireland.
To support collaboration and encourage transparent decision making, we published comprehensive user guides in its ‘Positive for the Planet’ report. In this report, SSE Renewables outlined its 10-point plan for Biodiversity Net Gain.
Our biodiversity net gain toolkits – which we have made open source – allow us to transparently quantify the progress we’re making to improve the natural environment on our onshore sites. This means we are building the renewables assets needed for net zero, while leaving the biodiversity at our sites in a measurably better state – tackling both the climate and nature emergencies, hand-in-hand.
Learn more about SSE Renewables - about our work, recent projects and news by visiting the SSE Renewables (UK) website now