Over 10 years ago we established our unique and innovative Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) to ensure local communities were at the heart of the development process. LEDS offers direct cost savings to the local community through an annual discount on the electricity bills of properties closest to a participating…
Enhancing habitats across the projects we support
by RES | Jul 23, 2025 | Reading time: < 1 min
We are committed to respecting and protecting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the environments in which we work. Providing services for renewable assets across 1,300 sites in 24 countries, we ensure compliance with local legislation and ESG disclosures, as well as following best practices with our global approach.
Following a land management approach, we assess our sites and use our expertise to action ecological initiatives to maximise habitat improvements across the projects we support. Our measures might include generating management plans to conserve species and enhance their habitats on our project’ sites.
We believe protecting nature and expanding renewable energy should go hand in hand. Read about some of our work below.
Protecting the hazel dormouse in Germany
The hazel dormouse is one of Germany’s rarest forest dwellers, vital for biodiversity but threatened by habitat loss. At a wind farm in south-west Germany, our team worked with care to create new shelter and nesting sites to support this species. To enhance the suitable dormouse habitat, we created well-structured forest edge areas and planted additional fruit-bearing shrubs. In addition, 48 nest boxes were installed on the trees, which have already been accepted by the dormouse. This initiative forms part of our broader biodiversity efforts featured in the 2025 Sustainability Report.
Protecting Swift Parrots in Australia
During the development of a renewable energy project in Australia, comprising a wind farm, solar farm, and battery energy storage system, we conducted habitat assessments to identify the presence of the critically endangered Swift Parrot and map native vegetation. The project has undergone several design refinements to minimise impacts, including preserving 28 large trees in patches and 46 scattered trees, and increasing buffer distances to high-quality foraging habitat. A 300 metre buffer has also been applied to the Joel Joel Nature Conservation Reserve, with future layouts aiming to further increase buffers and reduce turbine density in sensitive areas.
Protecting the Great Noctule bat in France
The Great Noctule is a protected bat species in France, as are all chiropterans. At a wind farm we manage in the centre of France, our asset management team works to conserve this species in the area. Following a scientific study, systems were put in place to regulate turbine operation based on the behaviour of the Great Noctule to reduce the risk of mortality. In 2022, we carried out additional monitoring during the species’ peak activity period, from mid-July to mid-September, using BATmode from the nacelles to record bat calls and assess activity. This study supports efforts to improve knowledge of chiropteran behaviour at the site and more broadly across France.
Protecting the Dulacca Woodland Snail in Australia
During the development of the Dulacca Wind Farm in Australia, we carried out survey and habitat assessments to map known and potential habitat for the endangered Dulacca Woodland Snail, focusing on avoiding these areas to minimise impact. A collaborative effort between RES, the contractor and specialist consultants reduced the proposed direct impact to snail habitat by over 95%, with a three-hectare ecological offset area created for the small residual area affected. Our work also involved extensive engagement with the Barunggam People, the Traditional Owners of the land, leading to a final design that avoided more than 90% of mapped high-density Aboriginal artefact scatters and 100% of identified scar trees, stone procurement areas, and grinding grooves, ensuring these culturally significant sites remained undisturbed.
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Learn more about our work.
Enhancing biodiversity at solar farms
We are committed to respecting and protecting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the environments where we work. Across the 1,300 sites we support in 24 countries, we ensure compliance with local legislation and ESG disclosures, while also applying best practice through a global approach. Land management is a…
Advancing reconciliation through respectful partnerships with first nations communities
Our culture of care extends to the environment and all stakeholders. Through our commitment to community relations, we seek to demonstrate this through respectful engagement and collaboration with Indigenous stakeholders, whose ancestral lands we live and work on. Increasing our understanding, value and recognition of Indigenous cultures, histories, knowledge and…