The Good Practice Wind Project aims to help the EU achieve its 2020 carbon reduction targets by increasing consenting rates for onshore and offshore wind projects across Europe.

Also included in the group's remit is the consideration of environmental issues in future wind projects.

The GP WIND project is led by the Scottish Government and has secured €2 million funding from the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) as part of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme 2010.

The project will address barriers to the development of wind energy, by developing good practice in reconciling renewable energy objectives with wider environmental objectives and actively involving communities in planning and implementation.

Mather says: "Europe has enormous onshore wind potential and while the sector is advancing well in many countries, most of the huge economic potential remains untapped.

"However international progress on renewables must be in harmony with environmental considerations. That's why the GP Wind project is such an important initiative, balancing our international vision for significant renewables investment with wider environmental objectives.”

The partners come from 8 European countries: Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Malta and Italy.