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Frequently asked

questions

1. What role do Leafteasers play?

Leafteasers wants to help solar developers get NISP certified.

Our specialists will assist the solar developer by carrying out the requirements in the ecology and landscape themes of the NISP tool, plus our participation ambassador will provide assistance in the stakeholder engagement requirements.

They will provide advice, decision making, assessment, environmental testing, maintenance plans, landscape design and also documentation which can be used towards the permit application. A full list of services can be found in the Brochure – downloadable from this website.

These experts will also fulfil standard requirements for solar park development – like the natuurtoets and landscape plans.

We can also assist solar developers through the NISP company certificate, embedding the NISP procedures in your companies quality management system.

2. What is the difference between the themes (Ecology, Landscape and Technology) and the multifunctional land use options?

Ecosystem, Landscape and Technology are the main themes of the NISP tool, and most of the requirements are based in these themes. These themes guide the solar developer through the process of creating a Nature Inclusive Solar Park.

Furthermore, as an added extra, a NISP may have multifunctional land uses on site, although this is not compulsary. Some ideas for multifunctional land use options are described in the Idea Sheet. Our participation ambassador will help you discuss these through with stakeholders, local communities, the municipality plus Leafteasers ecologist and landscaper, to see what could be desirable and feasible to integrate on site. This way your solar park development can contain multifunctional aspects which are matched to goals of the region and its people.

3. What are the costs of becoming NISP certified?

To become NISP certified, a solar developer should contact both Kiwa and Leafteasers.
salesbouw@kiwa.nl is the email to contact regarding the organisational certificate, the park certification, and solar park audits.

Furthermore, Leafteasers charges a fee for the NISP BRL and the assistance we provide through our ecosystem, stakeholder and landscape specialists.

The cost of our service represents usually only a small % of the average fixed investment costs for solar park development.

We are also busy with lining up all sort of benefits for solar developers going for a certified NISP park. This can mean discounts on the land rental fee, a special insurance for NISP parks and even a discount on solar park loan interest rates.

Get in touch to find out more!

4. What is the initial organisational certificate? When does it need to be completed?

The solar developer should complete the requirements of the company certificate before the NISP solar park is certified.

This is a relatively straightforward quality management assessment to make sure, for example, that responsible personnel are assigned roles in the NISP development and that an organised administration system is in place.

Through the company certificate, a solar developer also proves that they have adhered to the regulations around spatial planning, social participation and environmental quality.

A solar developer should only work towards the organisational certificate if they have a specific solar park development project which they are about to develop.

5. I already have an Ecologist, Landscaper and Stakeholder engagement colleague to help develop my solar park

Our experts come as part of the NISP package. We will work in conjunction with your existing personnel for ecology, biodiversity, landscaping and stakeholder matters, making sure that the NISP requirements are completed ready for certification.

6. How do I submit evidence for the certification?

Evidence for each requirement should be documented and labelled relating to each requirement number e.g. 6.1.1.1a.

An audit tool will be sent out to the solar developer from Kiwa. This tool contains all the requirements and the points they carry. Accepted types of evidence for requirements are also described here.

Furthermore, the choice of evidence is up to the client to decide upon. It should be a logical piece of evidence that proves that an action described in the requirements is fulfilled.

For example, one can think of:

  • A confirmation of the purchase of items (receipt, order confirmation)
  • Photos with date stamp
  • Certificates or labels
  • Reports and documents

There is a box beside each requirement where the solar developer and the Leafteasers specialists can link evidence from a file storage site – such as google drive, dropbox, one drive, box etc.

7. What is audit procedure for NISP?

The solar developer should inform Kiwa whenever they have passed the realisation phase (phase 4).  Kiwa will check the documented evidence and visit the park to provide an audit.

8. Some solar developers are already thinking about social and environmental topics around solar park development - how is NISP different?

We commend the solar developers who are already taking it into their own hands to work on landscape integration, biodiversity and/or stakeholder engagement.

These days everyone wants to talk about how they are doing something sustainable.
They might heavily promote a few measures that were taken, but neglect a number of other key issues. However, an approach which focuses on picking and choosing low hanging fruit measures, does not solve problems. It can pull the wool over stakeholders eyes.

Because NISP puts forward a number of mandatory requirements across the entire range of topics related to solar park development, proper attention is given to all key topics as a guarantee. This pushes the ambition and responsibility level on the market higher. It helps responsible solar developers stand out against others.

The value of a certification is that it is stronger than a statement, and a certification is able to prove good intentions and actions to all key stakeholders.

1. What role do Leafteasers consultants play?

Our specialists will assist the solar developer by carrying out the requirements in the ecology and landscape themes of the NISP tool, plus our participation ambassador will provide assistance in the stakeholder engagement requirements.

They will provide advice, decision making, assessment, environmental testing, maintenance plans, landscape design and also documentation which can be used towards the permit application.

These experts will also fulfil standard requirements for solar park development – like the natuurtoets and landscape plans. So, there is need to look further for your landscape and ecosystem needs.

Leafteasers also provide guidance and support for the solar developer as they use the NISP tool.

We are exclusive partners with certification company Kiwa, making us together your one-stop-shop for NISP development and certification.

2. What is the difference between the themes (Ecology, Landscape and Technology) and the multifunctional land use options?

Ecosystem, Landscape and Technology are the main themes of the NISP tool, and most of the requirements are based in these themes. These themes guide the solar developer through the process of creating a Nature Inclusive Solar Park.

Furthermore, as an added extra, a NISP may have multifunctional land uses on site, although this is not compulsary. Some ideas for multifunctional land use options are described in the Idea Sheet. Our participation ambassador will help you discuss these through with stakeholders, local communities, municipality and Leafteasers ecologist, biodiversity specialist and landscaper to see what could be desirable and feasible to integrate on site. This way your solar park development can contain multifunctional aspects which are matched to goals of the region and its people. In the management tool, the multifunctional land use options are followed up on in every stage through the Programme of Requirements (PoR).

3. What are the costs of becoming NISP certified?

To become NISP certified, payments should be made to Kiwa for the organisational certificate, the park certification, and park audits. These payments can be arranged through Kiwa. Contact Kiwa on : salesbouw@kiwa.nl

Furthermore, Leafteasers charges a fee for the NISP management tool and the assistance we provide through our ecosystem, biodiversity, stakeholder and landscape specialists. The cost of our service represents usually a small percent of the average fixed investment costs for solar park development. We are happy to draw up a quotation with the exact fee for your project. Our specialists take a huge portion of the work off your shoulders and help accelerate the solar park development process – so we are a valuable asset to your solar development projects!

4. What is the organisational certificate? and when does it need to be completed?

The solar developer must prove they fulfil requirements related to their company before completing the NISP certification.

This is a straightforward quality assessment to make sure, for example, that responsible personnel are assigned roles in the NISP development and that an organised administration system is in place. It also states that a solar developer must guarantee the adherence to legislation and regulatory procedures relating to spatial planning, social participation and environmental quality.

A solar developer should only work towards the organisational certificate if they have a specific solar park development project which they are about to develop.

Aspects of the organisational certificate compliance will be checked in yearly audits. If there are incomplete or insufficient elements from the organisational certificate evidence, repair measures will need to take place.

5. I already have an Ecologist and Landscaper to help develop my solar park

Our experts come as part of the NISP package. We will work in conjunction with your existing personnel for ecology, biodiversity, landscaping and stakeholder matters, as long as the NISP management tool is followed.

6. How do I submit evidence for the certification?

Evidence for each requirement should be documented and labelled relating to each requirement number e.g. 6.1.1.1a.

An audit tool will be sent out to the solar developer after their payment. This contains all the requirements and the points they carry. The accepted type of evidence for each requirement is also described here. There is a box beside each requirement where the solar developer and the Leafteasers specialists can link evidence from a file storage site – such as google drive, dropbox, one drive, box etc.

7. What is the audit procedure for NISP?

The solar developer should inform Kiwa whenever they have passed the realisation phase (phase 4).  Kiwa will check the documented evidence and visit the park to provide an audit.

8. 8. Some solar developers are already thinking about social and environmental topics around solar park development - how is NISP different?

We commend the solar developers who are already taking it into their own hands to work on landscape integration, biodiversity and/or stakeholder engagement.

These days everyone wants to talk about how they are doing something sustainable.
They might heavily promote a few measures that were taken, but neglect a number of other key issues. However, an approach which focuses on picking and choosing low hanging fruit measures, does not solve problems. It can pull the wool over stakeholders eyes.

Because NISP puts forward a number of mandatory requirements across the entire range of topics related to solar park development, proper attention is given to all key topics as a guarantee. This pushes the ambition and responsibility level on the market higher. It helps responsible solar developers stand out against others.

The value of a certification is that it is stronger than a statement, and a certification is able to prove good intentions and actions to all key stakeholders.