First South East European
Regional CIGRÉ Conference
Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016
SEERC
Possible Positive Effects of
the Grid Infrastructure
on the Environment
Environmental Department,
Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute,
Hajdrihova 2, 1000 Ljubljana
U. Fležar, A. Cerk and R. Vončina
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
=
securing energy supply
while
reducing CO2 emissions & protecting biodiversity
BACKGROUND - 1
http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/observed-temperature-change-over-europe-1976-2006, accessed 6.6.2016
A natural meadow in Ljubljana’s outskirts, Ljubljana Marsh Nature Park. Photo U. Flezar
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
Key documents from the EU:
• 2020 Biodiversity Strategy
• Europe’s Climate Change Opportunity
• Directive 2014/52/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and
private projects on the environment
Most important tool:
• Environmental assessment procedure (IEA, SEA, EIA)
BACKGROUND - 2
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
LEGALLY REQUIRED, COMPLEX PROCESS
Ensures the environemntal aspects are considered in the proposed infrastructure plans.
Environmental assessment
http://www.slideshare.net/AagatiConsulting/environmental-impact-assessment-in-india-aagati-consulting-12334280, accessed 6.6.2016
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
• Innovative approaches used in gird development across Europe
• Projects, designed by the cooperative teams of TSOs, environmentalists and others
• Independent of the environmental assessment process
• Greatly encouraged by the European Union
GOING BEYOND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
BIRDS AND POWERLINES: MAPPING OF FLIGHT PATH
• Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U.
• Advanced GIS analysis to identify bird flight routes
• Use that information to reduce the bird collision risk with planned and existing high-
voltage cables
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES - 1
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/awards/case_studies.html, accessed 6.6.2016
European Business Award for Environment 2014, awarded by the EC
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES - 2
• restoration of the forest edges and natural grasslands•creating natural ponds
•planning conservatory orchards•designing pasturage facilities for local farmers
LIFE ELIA – Creating green corridors under overhead lines
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
• benefits local biodiversity
• is 1.4 - 3.9 times CHEAPER on a 30 year times scale
• improves the social acceptance for high-voltage grid lines
Renewables Grid Initiative’s 2015 “Good Practice of the Year” award
LIFE ELIA – creating green corridors under overhead lines
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
A PRELIMINARY STUDY PRIOR TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS
• investigates the ecosystem characteristics of an area, containing a planned high voltage
transmission line
OUR APPROACH
A butterfly (left) and a typical forest habitat (right) in the area. Photo U. Flezar
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
• highlights the importance of a locally based approach on the potential biodiversity enhancement
programme
• appropriate routing, followed by a suitable corridor vegetation management, could benefit the local
flora and fauna
OUR APPROACH - results
Local rare species of plants, deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) (right) and lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) (left)
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
• gives recommendations on the further activities in the grid planning process needed for a successful
implementation of a biodiversity enhancement programme
1. restoration of the powerline right-of-way vegetation
2. prevent the possible spread of the alien invasive plant species in the ROWs
3. appropriate vegetation management in the operational phase
OUR APPROACH - results
An alien invasive species that is spreading in the ROWs – black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Photo U. Flezar (left).
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
1. Grid planning must become innovative, creative and cooperative.
2. Legal requirements are important, but could be strongly complemented by additional
activities
3. COOPERATION between grid planners and environmental organizations is
CRUCIAL
4. There is a good set of examples representing new partnerships successfully
implementing environmentally friendly, publicly acceptable transmission lines
5. The new approaches are highly encouraged by the European Union (LIFE projects, awards)
CONCLUSIONS
First South East European Regional CIGRÉ Conference - Portoroz, Slovenia, 7—8 June 2016 SEERC
Thank you for your attention