Ecological Corridor Management

E.ON aims to create a 13,000km network of ecological corridors across their European subsidiary companies of Distribution System Operators. Ecological Corridor Management (ECM) works on promoting biodiversity and restoring ecosystems around grids, while ensuring system security by removing only cutting down fast-growing trees which pose a threat by potentially touching or falling onto power lines. he fast-growing trees are cut down and space left for the existing slower, low-growing trees, creating a habitat for various insects and animals.

Highlights

• Results found 5 times more biodiversity in corridors near Westnetz’s grids.

• 13000 km long ecological corridor in Europe, which is as long as the diameter of the earth.

• Until end of 2029, the initiative aims to create valuable biotopes on 70,000 ha beneath their power lines.

About the practice

Ecological Corridor management by E.ON first began in Westnetz’s power lines in 1992. As of 2022, the ecological corridor encompasses 6700 ha of vegetation areas, with 95%  of the area being biologically mapped and plotted. The initiative includes 99 individual projects spanning across their various subsidiary companies. In the control area of Westnetz (Germany's largest DSO, active in the Western part of the country), around 1,200 individual ECM plans are being developed.