APEM Ireland awarded place on FuturEnergy Framework

[Source: APEM]

The team at APEM Ireland, supported by colleagues from Woodrow, part of the APEM Group, have been awarded a place on FuturEnergy Ireland’s framework for the provision of ecological services.

FuturEnergy Ireland (the Group) is a Joint Venture Group owned jointly by Coillte and ESB with ambitious plans of delivering 1 GW of green energy by 2030. This will go some way towards supporting Ireland’s energy security from renewable sources and help power 730,000 homes a year.

APEM Ireland successfully submitted applications for all five lots:

  • Lot 1 – Terrestrial Ecology (excluding birds and bats)
  • Lot 2 – Ornithology
  • Lot 3 – Aquatic Ecology
  • Lot 4 – Bats
  • Lot 5 – Other Ecology Service, e.g. advisory service related to protected species and mitigation

Delivery of the framework will very much be a holistic and integrated approach, with two of the three Irish entities of the APEM Group being involved with support from the APEM team based in the UK.

APEM’s 80 strong team of experts based in Ireland are probably the country’s largest group of environmental specialists, working seamlessly to deliver the highest quality of work and value for clients through internal efficiency and industry-leading knowledge.

Work likely to be undertaken under the framework will include, but not be exclusive to, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIAR), Appropriate Assessments (AA), Nature Impact Statements (NIS), Outline Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs) and Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA).

Other activity delivered by the team includes:

  • Phase 1 habitat surveys
  • Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA)
  • River habitat and corridor surveys
  • Invasive Alien Species (IAS) surveys
  • Risk Assessment Method Statements (RAMS)
  • Irish Wetland Bird Surveys (I-WeBS)

Dr Michael Dobson, associate director from APEM Ireland comments:

We are excited to be part this initiative. APEM has worked for many years with the renewable energy sector worldwide, and we see this as a great opportunity to bring our experience to FuturEnergy Ireland and to play our part in further developing the country’s crucial wind power capacity.

The framework will last for four years with the potential to extend for a further 12 months.