About the partnership
Since 2022, Mirova Research Center (MRC) and Mirova have partnered with the Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité (FRB) to advance scientific understanding of the biodiversity impacts of renewable energy infrastructure.
As an investor in renewable energy projects, Mirova believes that climate action and biodiversity preservation must go hand in hand. Through this unique research programme, MRC and FRB seek to better understand both the impacts of renewable energy infrastructure and the effectiveness of measures designed to avoid, reduce and mitigate them.
Scientific Literature Reviews
A cornerstone of the programme is a series of comprehensive literature reviews covering three renewable energy technologies: onshore wind, offshore wind and solar energy.
For each technology, the research follows a common approach:
- Document biodiversity impacts through an extensive review of the scientific literature;
- Assess mitigation measures and good practices implemented across projects and geographies;
- Translate scientific evidence into actionable recommendations for policymakers, infrastructure operators, researchers and investors.
The programme combines full scientific reports, concise summaries for decision-makers and stakeholder engagement workshops to ensure that findings are both scientifically robust and operationally relevant.
Together, these resources help bridge the gap between climate and biodiversity objectives by supporting better planning, investment and project development decisions.
Research projects
To complement the literature reviews, four targeted research projects have been funded to address key knowledge gaps at the intersection of wind energy and biodiversity. Covering topics ranging from bat and bird protection to the impacts of offshore wind infrastructure on marine species, these studies advance scientific understanding while informing practical solutions for renewable energy developers and operators :
1. BRIBAT
Developing genuinely operational multi-factor algorithms for wind turbine shutdown protocols to better protect bat populations.
Led by Kévin Barré (MNHN).
2. CHIRO-EOLHAB
Examining how landscape features and seasonal variation influence bat habitat use near wind turbines.
Led by Christian Kerbiriou (MNHN) and
Camille Leroux (Auddicé Biodiversité).
3. CEMARB_DC
Investigating the potential effects of electromagnetic fields generated by offshore wind farm cables on the development and behavior of small-spotted catsharks.
Led by Céline Artero, Julie Lucas,
and Thomas Trancart (MNHN).
4. CHIRO-EOLHAB
Developing models of raptor flight behavior to improve collision avoidance with wind turbines.
Led by Alexandre Millon (Aix-Marseille Université, IMBE)
and Caroline De Zutter (Engie Lab CRIGEN).
Publications
Impact and Solutions of Onshore Wind on Biodiversity
Impact of Onshore Wind on Biodiversity
Effectiveness of Measures and Good Practices to Mitigate Biodiversity Risks of Onshore Wind Farms
Impact and Solutions of Offshore Wind on Biodiversity
Impact of Solar Energy on Biodiversity
Effectiveness of Measures and Good Practices to Mitigate Biodiversity Risks of Solar Installations
Impact and Solutions of Solar energy on Biodiversity
Impact of Offshore Wind on Biodiversity
Effectiveness of Measures and Good Practices to Mitigate Biodiversity Risks of Offshore Wind Farms