The relationship between the electricity grid and biodiversity is very complex and varies depending on the phase of the lines’ life (being built or already existing) and on the type of territory they cover.
In some cases, electricity lines may in fact represent a collision risk for birds or a fire risk for the surrounding vegetation but also an opportunity, especially in the areas of intense cultivation, for biodiversity concentration.
Terna’s commitment for the protection of biodiversity is divided into three aspects:
The attention to biodiversity is particularly high when the lines cross through protected areas.
Considering all of the types of protected areas defined by the Legislator (national and regional parks, national and regional reserves, SCI – Sites of Community Interest, SPA – Special Protection Areas, that together cover 22% of the Italian territory) and eliminating the overlapping areas, 9.7% of Terna’s electricity grid (nearly 5,500 km) crosses a protected area for stretches varying from a few hundred meters to some tens of kilometers.
Terna’s protection of biodiversity is primarily of a precautionary nature. This means that, in the construction of new power lines, the need to preserve biodiversity is taken into consideration from the very first phases of the planning. The
agreement with the WWF contributes to this by providing for the integration of the electricity grid’s development plans with the Strategy of Ecoregional Conservation drafted by WWF.
During the
construction of new lines, the impact on biodiversity is linked to
construction activities, in particular to the opening of pathways to allow the assembly of pylons, to the excavation of soil and removal of waste materials. These activities are performed in full compliance with environmental regulations and any further requirements. During construction activity, recovery and mitigation operations are carried out according to the strict criteria of environmental integration.
Terna is aware of the fact that the presence of electricity lines may represent a risk, particularly for birds. Terna’s high voltage lines may involve a particularly dangerous risk of collision, and not electrocution, which is associated to the reduced space between the conductors which characterizes low and medium voltage lines.
In
agreement with LIPU – Italian League for Bird Protection, partner of Birdlife International, Terna has developed a scientifically based analysis on the interaction between electricity lines and bird life, to identify environmental conditions that increase or decrease the risk of collision and the most appropriate mitigation measures.
Among those experimented at length are
dissuaders, devices that due to their size and the noise generated when touched by wind, render the power lines more easily perceived by birds in flight. In 2010, 8,917 dissuaders were installed, placed on 37 power lines for a total of 159 kilometers.