New power grids and nature conservation

Year

2014

Organisation

NABU

Description

In order to promote an energy transition that is sensitive to environmental concerns, NABU’s project on power grids and nature conservation aims at intensifying the participation of conservation organisations in grid projects through a variety of engagement and communication activities.


Objectives:

  • Position NABU as a critical but constructive partner for a successful energy transition (“Energiewende”)
  • Evaluate and bundle existing knowledge of conservation demands and the environmental impact of grid expansion whilst transferring know-how
  • Train volunteering and fully-employed conservationists
  • Increase NABU’s knowledge for distribution to its subdivisions and members

 

Main information:

In order to enable grid development that is genuinely nature friendly, authorities, conservationists and the energy industry have to be interconnected and communicate appropriately. NABU holds the belief that delays or lawsuits from conservationists can be avoided by integrating them in the project discussions, creating a collaborative process of joint decision making.

The project revolved around a set of collaborative communication activities, which included the writing of guidance papers on nature conservation and grids, the hosting of collaborative workshops, the hosting of information seminars and excursions and the publication of factsheets. Active participants included nature and environmental associations, TSOs, planning authorities, scientists, local politicians, as well as the general public.

The seminars and workshops, each of them accompanied by a field trip, looked to both garner input and educate, receiving very positive feedback from participants. TSOs have recognized the potential to gain from the input of such activities and to effectively implement thorough, prudent and transparent grid project planning.


Additional information:

  • Workshops, seminars and publications detailed the topics of bird protection on overhead lines, water and soil conservation when using underground cables, grid connection of offshore windfarms, the fragmentation of landscape and natural habitats, ecological line management and biotope networks as well as grid planning in Northern and Southern Germany
  • Founded in 1899, NABU is one of the oldest and largest environmental associations in Germany. The association encompasses more than 560,000 members and sponsors, who commit themselves to the conservation of threatened habitats, flora and fauna, to climate protection and energy policy. It is the German BirdLife Partner

 

 

RGI gratefully acknowledges the EU LIFE funding support:

EU LIFE funding support Logo

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the LIFE Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.