Biodiversity

OX2 aims to develop renewable electricity generation that creates significant climate benefits while also benefiting biodiversity. We want to lead the way towards a nature-positive climate transition.

Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, has been declining at an alarming rate. The loss of biodiversity threatens humanity’s well-being and prosperity as society is dependent on healthy nature and the ecosystem services that is provides.

Renewable energy tackles climate change, one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Renewable energy projects, however, also comes with negative impact on nature, mainly through the occupation of land. We believe that renewable energy should not come at the expense of nature and therefore aim to develop nature-positive solar and wind farms by 2030.

Biodiversity strategy

Our biodiversity strategy guides us in how to work with biodiversity and aims to support us achieving our biodiversity targets. The biodiversity strategy encompasses three goal areas:

Use the mitigation hierarchy as a guiding principle to manage impacts on nature
Create awareness, credibility and transparency around the work on biodiversity by measuring, documenting, reporting and communicating
Collaborate with scientists, landowners and other external stakeholders for knowledge and action, to achieve more impact than if we were to do it on our own

Read our biodiversity strategy

Read our mitigation hierarchy guideline

Implementation of strategy

We measure activities and impacts to monitor the implementation of our biodiversity strategy in our projects. The table describes some examples form projects commissioned in 2023.

Steps in the mitigation hierarchy	Activities for projects commissioned in 2023
Avoid	Underground power lines to avoid obstacles for birds Adapted project site layout to avoid areas of high nature value, such as a pond and valuable forest Applied appropriate waste management
Minimize	Careful handling and monitoring of loose soil Limited movement of loose soil within the project so as to reduce the risk of spreading invasive species Educating employees to avoid the spread of invasive species Spacing of wind turbines to create migration corridors Installed fencing and culverts to protect reptiles Applied protective measures for a Red List plant Limited lighting that may disturb animals in the area
Restore	Planting native seeds on former wind turbine blade storage area to recreate natural habitat and benefit pollinators Stored soil layer separately to encourage regrowth of native flora Replaced road culverts with new ones that are ecologically better
Compensate
Nature-enhancing actions	Re-establishment of the freshwater pearl mussel Restoration of pasture, with cows grazing from 2023 onwards Construction of a shelter and barbecue area close to information signs about biodiversity in the immediate area Create new meadow habitats Provide houses for birds, bats and hedgehogs Training workshops on the theme of biodiversity Stocking trout in watercourses Wetland restoration

Targets:

Develop nature-positive solar and wind farms by 2030

Explore case studies related to biodiversity

Exploring synergies in Björkskär

As part of the development of renewable energy projects in Åland, OX2 explores synergies between business and biodiversity.