- The purpose of the agreement is to reduce the risk of collision or electrocution of birds on power lines in the region
- It has been entered into with the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Territory and Sustainability
- It is the first commitment of its kind to be agreed in Catalonia
Endesa and the Departments of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food and Territory and Sustainability of the Regional Government of Catalonia have signed a collaboration agreement with the common objective of lessening the risks of collision and electrocution of birds in the electricity grid, particularly those species classified as threatened. It is the first time that an agreement of this nature has been signed in Catalonia with an electricity company.
Endesa's coordination work in this area is committed to adapting, adjusting and correcting all the medium and high voltage line supports that since 2014 have been classified as likely to represent a danger to birds. As it has been doing as a matter of course, the company will modify the towers involved and will add anti-collision elements and insulating devices for live wires on the lines to protect the birds and reduce the risk of electrocution and collision. Last year alone, Endesa allocated 2 million euros to its Bird Plan. The agreement also stipulates that these same measures will be introduced in all the supports that may be identified in the future. In both cases, this will always be done in accordance with the prioritisation criteria established by the Government of Catalonia. Both departments involved undertake to exchange information in order to achieve the objectives of the Agreement.
The actions will be carried out in all the areas in which the company has transport and distribution infrastructures and, specifically, in areas of special interest for birds. However, they will not be carried out in the Aran Valley, since the Aran General Council, through Decree 150/1999, of 1 June, is responsible for managing the wildlife in the region.
Inspections will be carried out by the Rural Agents to guarantee surveillance, control, protection, integrated prevention and collaboration in the management of the natural environment.
They will report all the information to the General Directorate of Environmental Policies and the Environment so that the appropriate measures can be taken. The Directorate, in turn, will analyse the information and establish which electrical supports should be adapted as a priority, according to their proven danger. Periodically, through the monitoring and inspections carried out in the field, the measures will be extended to all new infrastructures requiring an intervention.
The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food will thus provide the General Directorate of Environmental Policies and the Natural Environment, as well as Endesa, with all the relevant information (incidents, damage to birds, lack of adaptation of supports, etc.) derived from the inspection of the power lines. The company itself will be responsible for implementing the necessary actions in accordance with the priorities set by the government.
This agreement is valid for 4 years, but may be extended for further 4-year periods. Likewise, a fully operational committee has been created, on which both regional government departments and the company are represented, to supervise and monitor the implementation of this agreement, which aims to continue protecting birds across the country.
The agreement has been signed by the Secretary of Environment and Sustainability of the Department of Territory and Sustainability, Marta Subirà; the director-general for Rural Agents of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Marc Costa, and Endesa's director for Infrastructure and Networks in Catalonia, Francisco Vizcaíno.
Sobre Endesa
Endesa es la primera compañía eléctrica de España y la segunda en Portugal. Además, es el segundo operador gasista del mercado español. Desarrolla un negocio integrado desde la generación hasta la comercialización y ofrece también, a través de Endesa X, servicios de valor añadido orientados a la descarbonización de los usos energéticos en hogares, empresas, industrias y administraciones públicas. Endesa está firmemente comprometida con los ODS de las Naciones Unidas y, como tal, impulsa decididamente el desarrollo de energías renovables a través de Enel Green Power España, la electrificación de la economía y la responsabilidad social corporativa. En este último ámbito, actuamos también desde la Fundación Endesa. Nuestro equipo humano suma alrededor de 9.600 empleados. Endesa forma parte de Enel, el mayor grupo eléctrico de Europa.