The partnership will also see the RSPB become a more integral part of Ecotricity’s site selection process for renewable energy projects, consulted for their wildlife expertise at a much earlier stage in the process.

Ecotricity will use their expertise to help the RSPB with their ambitious plans for green energy, improved energy efficiency and electric vehicle charging points at wildlife reserve visitor centres.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “We’re already making green energy to cut the carbon emissions that cause climate change, which in turn impacts habitats and wildlife. This partnership takes that one step further, making closer links between nature and green energy.

“This is a long-term strategic partnership that will not only protect wildlife, but develop new habitat creation, and make the RSPB a more integral part of the process of our green energy projects,” he added.

RSPB head of energy and climate, Harry Huyton, said: “Switching to a low carbon economy is one of the defining challenges of our generation. Failure would mean devastation for the world’s wildlife – but equally we must ensure that when we develop renewable energy projects we do our best to ensure they do not harm wild species in our countryside.

“That’s why the RSPB has committed to working with Ecotricity in a partnership that will unite us behind our common mission of a renewables revolution in harmony with nature”

“We hope that other energy companies will follow suite and put nature conservation at the heart of their businesses too,” he added.

Last month, Ecotricity announced that it will install two new wind turbines for tyre manufacturer Michelin at its factory in Ballymena, Ireland.

The project, which has a capacity of 4.6MW, is Michelin’s second wind park constructed by green energy company Ecotricity, who installed two windmills at the company’s Dundee tyre factory in 2006

Leigh Stringer

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