World Wind Energy Association
Sustainability and Due Diligence Guidelines

Four a spects of the current situation have led to the Sustainability and Due Diligence Guidelines of the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA):

First, wind energy development requires clear rules for smooth planning and permission procedures. Second, many countries do not have appropriate regulations in force yet. Third, wind farm developers and public authorities should provide a high degree of sustainability to maintain a high level of public acceptance. Finally, the share of wind energy has to be increased substantially to cover future energy needs in a sustainable manner.

Therefore, Sustainability and due diligence guidelines for the World Wind Energy Association have been established to promote greater consideration of sustainability issues in the planning and development of new wind projects, as well as the management and operation of existing wind power schemes

Promoting the vital role wind energy resources will play in a carbon-constrained world was one of the main driving forces behind the WWEA taking the initiative and developing the guidelines.  They will assist in setting performance expectations for the industry. It is envisaged that the guidelines will be of value to policy makers, regulators, wind power developers and operators with the evaluation and management of often competing environmental, social and economic issues that arise in the assessment, development and operation of wind power projects

Thorough sustainability assessments should ensure that detrimental social and environmental impacts are avoided, mitigated or compensated. Of necessity, the principles articulated in the guidelines are generic since each project will have its own unique set of circumstances influenced by scale, geographic location, social, legal and political constructs. The guidelines will need to be adapted to the specific context of each particular project.

The guidelines address six main areas:

• WWEA Policy,
• The role of governments and regulatory frameworks,
• Options evaluation and risk assessment,
• Managing environmental outcomes
• Managing social outcomes and
• Managing economic outcomes.

Caption: Table of Contents

1. Foreword
2. Purpose of the Guidelines
3. Policy Context for Wind Energy Development
4. WWEA Policy
   1. Commitment to sustainable development
5. The Role of Governments and Regulatory Frameworks
   1. Governments and sustainability
   2. National and regional energy policies
   3. Strategic assessment
   4. Promoting wind power in energy production
6. Options Evaluation and Risk Assessment
   1. Evaluation of alternative energy options
   2. Due diligence assessment of on-shore and off-shore wind energy systems
      1. Legal and institutional arrangements
7. Managing Environmental Outcomes
1. Optimising environmental outcomes for wind power schemes
   1. Environmental assessment (EA) principles
   2. Environmental management systems (EMS)
8. Managing Social Outcomes
   1. The role for stakeholder and community consultation
   2. Gaining community acceptance – managing social impacts
   3. Gaining community acceptance – proposed strategies
9. Managing Economic Outcomes
   1. Institutional framework
   2. Identifying costs and benefits
   3. Allocation of benefits
10. WWEA Member Commitment to Sustainability
11. Bibliography
12. Acknowledgements
13. Feedback

Implementation of the guidelines will help ensure that wind projects are sustainable on an economic, social and environmental basis

WWEA believes that sustainable development is a fundamental component of social responsibility, sound business practice and natural resource management.

The Development and Implementation of
WWEA Sustainability Guidelines:

The guidelines are available at:
http://www.wwindea.org/home/images/stories/pdfs/wwea_05_11-10.pdf

World Wind Energy Association
www.wwindea.org and
Andrew Scanlon
Sustainability Guidelines Coordinator
Hydro Tasmania
www.hydro.com.au
Hobart, Australia