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On June 2, the Verkhovna Rada Ecocommittee will consider draft law \u21165342 on the protection of wild animals.<\/span><\/p>\n The document requires mandatory installment of special devices on turbines of wind power plants to prevent the death of wild animals \u2013 avian radar systems and ultrasonic bat deterrent systems.<\/p>\n The European Business Association shares the aspiration of the state to preserve biodiversity, however, it draws attention to the critical provisions of the draft law, which need to be thoroughly revised.<\/span><\/p>\n First<\/span><\/strong>, for wind farm construction projects (with 2 or more turbines or turbines with a height of 50 meters or more), it is required to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure. In the framework of the EIA, the study\/inspection of the environmental impact of the operation of a certain wind farm is carried out to establish the fact of potential damage from wind farms to wild birds\/bats; the fact of the presence or absence of migratory routes of birds, as well as the study of the level of danger and\/or harm to wild animals from the operation of a particular wind turbine, etc. Thus, it would be economically and environmentally feasible to impose obligations on the installation of radar and ultrasound systems only if a significant negative impact on birds and bats from the operation of a particular wind farm is identified during the EIA.<\/span><\/p>\n Secondly<\/span><\/strong>, the draft law proposes to ban the placement of wind power plants closer than 500 meters to forest plantations and residential buildings, as well as on the migration routes of birds. In fact, such a proposal contradicts the current requirements of national standards of Ukraine, which in 2015 were harmonized with interstate standards. Thus, according to DSTU 8339: 2015 \u201cWind energy. Wind power plants. Environmental Impact Assessment of Wind farms\u00bb, a wind farm can be located at a distance of 400 to 800 m depending on its characteristics.<\/span><\/p>\n Third<\/span><\/strong>, the draft law proposes to ban the operation of wind farms without these devices and forcibly disconnect them from the grid. This practice is not used in the EU and it contradicts several regulations governing the procedure, conditions, terms, and cases of actual disconnection of electrical installations from the electricity grid. Therefore, there is a risk of violation of the technological integrity of the grid, as well as emergency power outages of the connected users\/consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n