Wingspan 2024

From 15 – 17 October 2024 in Brussels the inaugural edition of Wingspan, a new biennial conference for a nature-positive energy transition was organised. This year, we showcased partnerships between electricity grid operators, renewables developers and operators, and environmental civil society – and fostered an environment for new partnerships to be born.

With 155 in-person participants and 165 attendees online from 35 countries, the event brought together a diverse range of stakeholders - grid operators, NGOs, renewable energy developers, academics, and authorities - from across the globe to address the urgent need for a nature-friendly energy transition. The conference featured insightful panel discussions, scientific presentations, a workshop, a poster session, and a fair showcasing bird protection devices used along power lines and wind energy infrastructure.

Key messages from the conference included:

• The LIFE Programme is a critical funding source for collaborative projects between grid operators, renewable developers, NGOs, and academic institutions, enabling effective mitigation measures and fostering innovation.
• While EU frameworks for nature protection and the deployment of renewable energy are in place, their implementation remains uneven across Member States, requiring further harmonization.
• Risk mapping is a valuable tool for identifying areas suitable for new projects and prioritizing mitigation measures along operational infrastructure.
• Robust data across all represented sectors is crucial for making informed, data-driven decisions for the acceleration of deployment of energy infrastructure.

Live streams, photos, posters, and additional details are available at this link.

We are looking forward to continuing these discussions at the next edition in 2026.