The charity says the move could result in substantial growth in areas where development is likely to have lower risks for marine wildlife.
The UK government has been urged to invest more in understanding the impacts of floating wind and addressing potential challenges to sustainable deployment to spur commercial-scale sites by the mid-2020s.
The comments come on the day a government consultation closes on whether to change regulations to enable contracts for difference (CfDs) support for projects starting beyond 2020 and up to 2026.
RSPB recently released its ‘2050 Energy Vision’ which highlighted on how UK can deliver its climate targets with higher levels of renewable energy without severe risks to wildlife, particularly to sensitive species and habit6ats.
The report concluded that the UK should prioritise renewable energy projects with emphasis on onshore wind, solar and also on offshore renewables, along with plans to substantially reduce energy demand.
RSPB notes that it welcomes the government’s decision to fund renewable energy beyond 2020s and the need to investor confidence that UK is a good place to invest in renewable energy projects.
The charity also said that it would strongly resist renewable projects proposals which could have wildlife impacts, yet it supports large-scale expansion of carefully-planned renewable projects in UK and supports over 90% of the proposed projects.
RSPB senior policy officer, Melanie Coath said: “The RSPB is clear that continued Government support for carefully-planned renewable energy into the 2020s is critical to the UK’s long-term energy strategy.
“There is also an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of innovative technologies like floating wind turbines, if we seize the opportunity now, and make sure we invest in understanding the impacts of those technologies so they can be rolled out in harmony with nature.”
Image: RSPB appeals to UK government to review support for renewable energy projects. Photo: Courtesy of Andy Hay.
