8.3.3. Bird protection

G4 EUS EN12

High-voltage lines can harm bird life. The Elia group therefore makes a huge effort to protect birds and minimise negative impacts on them.

For this reason, the Elia group is installing bird markers (in order to make the lines more visible to birds, meaning they will be able to more easily avoid them) and nests along its pylons to reduce these negative impacts and protect endangered species.

Within the ActNow programme we have set a target related to bird protection, by 2030, 100% of our lines identified as critical for birds will be equipped with bird markers.

ELIA IN BELGIUM

With the help of Belgium’s leading environmental organisations, Elia Transmission Belgium SA/NV has identified the 130 sections of its network that pose the greatest hazard to birdlife. Measuring 200 km in total, they are gradually being fitted with anti-collision devices over a ten-year period (starting in 2016). If an infrastructure maintenance project is due to take place along these sections, the installation of bird markers is planned as part of the project.

For sections without projects, we will capitalise on moments when scheduled interventions are due to occur to fit markers along conductors or earth connections. In the reporting year, Elia Transmission Belgium SA/NV undertook several steps with the Belgian nature conservation organisations Natuurpunt and Natagora. We joined forces to make overhead lines more visible to birds in the Flemish Ghent Canal Zone and by the Walloon Eau d’Heure lakes. We also took part in monitoring sessions with Natuurpunt to compare the situation before and after the fitting of our overhead lines with bird markers.

We also set up some nesting boxes along the bottom of or the top of our pylons depending on the species we are aiming to protect.

Bird markers

Total lines equipped (km) with bird markers

2019 2020 2021

37.59 43.74 79.74

Along with various partners (transmission system operators RTE in France and REN in Portugal and several nature and bird protection organisations), Elia Transmission Belgium SA/NV has applied to receive funding from the European LIFE programme for their joint “Safelines4Birds” project, which targets specific endangered bird species which are considered to be a “priority”.

50HERTZ IN GERMANY

Over the past few years, an extensive study has been carried out with the Brandenburg State Environmental Agency. This was evaluated with experts from the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) and the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). The aim of the study was to identify lines which posed an increased risk to birds, in order to equip them with bird protection markers. The data from the study will be incorporated into a Germany-wide map.

In 2020, a further 30 km of transmission lines in the area of Havelländisches Luch (which is very rich in terms of bird diversity) were retrofitted with markers as part of a voluntary species protection measure. Currently, bird protection markers have been installed along around 368 km of overhead lines.

In preparation for further projects, 6 existing lines with 122 km running through ornithologically sensitive areas were checked for the technical feasibility of retrofitting bird protection markers in the year under review.

Bird markers

Total lines equipped (km) with bird markers

2019 2020 2021

300 368 368