Unlocking Europe's full potential for renewable energy via the modernisation and expansion of its power grids should go hand-in-hand with nature conservation efforts, said a coalition of Europe's largest grid operators and environmental organisations. The 'European Grid Declaration on Electricity Network Development and Nature Conservation in Europe' was handed to European Commissioner for Energy Günther H. Oettinger last month at the European Grid Conference in Brussels.

In October, the European Commission put forward a draft law makingit easier to build and finance cross-border power lines, which areessential in making Europe’s energy system more low-carbon friendly.The coalition of grid operators and civil society organisationssupports Europe’s ambition to boost renewable electricity and cutcarbon emissions.

The Declaration aims to strengthen the coalition of stakeholderssupporting grid expansion to integrate renewables and raise publicawareness of this need. It also lays the ground for cooperation onspecific pilot projects to develop best practice and improve theimplementation of grid development in line with nature conservationobjectives. The coalition also pledges to encourage transparency andaddress public acceptance.

Grid operators will commit themselves to helping meet Europe’sobjectives to protect nature, by ensuring, for example, that risks tobirds from power lines are minimised. At the same time, NGOs willcommit to supporting crucial grid development for the integration ofrenewables from larger centralised and smaller localised generationsources.

For further information and to download the full EU GridDeclaration:

http://www.renewables-grid.eu