Cumulative Impact Assessment for the Wind Energy Sector

Lori Anna ConzoSenior Environmental Specialist, IFC

Prepared for: Wind Farms and the Environment Regional Workshop, Belgrade, Serbia

27 May ‘15

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA)

Sensitive Receptors, known as “Valued Environmental & Social Component”

Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA)

Bird Population

Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA)

BatPopulation

Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA)

Communities

Red Sea/ Rift Valley Flyway

Dana Nature Reserve / Important Bird Area (IBA)

To be constructed

Will be operational soon

Progress made to date in Jordan

• Scoping Phase• Discussions with focal groups of

stakeholders• Identify spatial boundaries • Identify “VECs” • Identification of existing data

Progress made to date in Jordan

• Identified consultant consortium – project manager, international experts, local experts

• Designed standardized baseline methods• Identified all potential surveyors in Jordan

and carried out in-field training• Implementing standardized baselines at three

wind farm sites• Multi-stakeholder ‘Advisory Committee’

Progress made to date in Jordan

• Developers hired the local consultants• IFC’s CIA international team overseeing local

consultants

Next Steps

• Identify baseline conditions• Undertake uniform Collision Risk Assessment

for each wind farm• Impact assessment• Identify highest risk situations• Identify potential mitigation measures• Eventually… joint post-construction

monitoring

Lessons learnt so far…

• Start process with developers• Ensuring that developers understand the

benefits:– Joint monitoring approaches is cost effective– Access to financing (IFC / EBRD / other

requirement)– Builds credibility– Potential to improve relationships with

stakeholders

Lessons learnt so far…

• Spend adequate time at beginning of process to collect existing data

• Whatever initial timeframe was planned – double it

Thank you!