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