Biodiversity Net Gain
What is biodiversity?
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, means the variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to development that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was pre-development. It focuses on the change in the biodiversity value of a site, comparing the pre and post construction biodiversity values to ensure a positive impact overall
SSE Renewables have published our first Biodiversity Net Gain Report (2022). This report outlines our commitments for achieving BNG and the approach we have taken to date. Alongside the report, we have published our two BNG Toolkits (Optioneering Toolkit) (Project Toolkit) and user guide on sserenewables.com/sustainability so that others can review our approach, implement it on their own projects, and we can evolve a consistent methodology for quantifying BNG together across the sector.
Our ultimate goal at SSE Renewables is to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain across all of our operations, from new developments to operational sites, and across all technologies and geographies. However, we know that the methodologies, policies and approaches to quantifying and creating BNG are rapidly evolving. Therefore we have developed a comprehensive 10-point plan to build on our approach to date and play a leading role in developing a robust and credible approach for BNG across the sector for the future.
Every development site has an intrinsic ‘biodiversity value’, which is determined by a wide range of factors including the type, condition and area of a habitat. By quantifying the biodiversity value of a site pre-and post-development, we can understand the impact that activities have had on this biodiversity value, whether positive or negative, and understand the most effective ways of mitigating biodiversity losses and enhancing biodiversity gains.
SSE Renewables has set targets for achieving BNG on newly consented onshore sites from 2025 onwards. A site is deemed to have achieved BNG if the number of Biodiversity Units post-development is greater than 105% of the baseline biodiversity value, and a significant BNG if it has achieved 110% or above.
Toolkit User Guide
Click here for the Toolkit User Guide
We welcome and encourage feedback on this report and our approach to delivering Biodiversity Net Gain to [email protected]