- In Vilaller, a two-year action plan (2021-2022) has been implemented to place 2.5 km of fences around the enclosure with the aim of protecting large ungulate mammals, such as wild boars and roe deer.
- It will be used to empty the infrastructure and perform inspection and maintenance tasks after rescuing native fish species.
- The tasks are part of the Biodiversity Conservation Plan and have the advice and collaboration of the Rural Agents of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Endesa, through its renewable energy division Enel Green Power, has launched a two-year action plan (2021-2022) to install protective fences in the Vilaller hydroelectric channel, in the Alta Ribagorça, to prevent the native fauna of the region from being washed into the canal, within its Biodiversity Conservation Plan and as one of the star sustainability measures in the Lleida Pyrenees. The first phase is expected to begin on 18 October and last approximately four weeks.
This infrastructure –which runs through the municipalities of Vilaller and Montanuy, in Huesca– is 5.8 kilometres long, 1.3 of which are covered. 2,000 metres of fences were already placed, which will now be reinforced and expanded with another 2,500 (1,400 metres in 2021 and 1,100 in 2022), with a total budget of 155,000 euros, contributed entirely by the company.
Specifically, the protective fences consist of a rectangular grid of galvanised wire with a progressive density, 1.5 metres high, which will be installed on both sides of the channel, and fastened with wooden sticks so that they are better integrated into the natural environment. As always, the tasks will be carried out with the collaboration of the body of Rural Agents of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In addition, as in other similar campaigns, the action will be used to empty the canal of water and carry out periodic inspection and maintenance work. As usual, the fish fauna will be rescued to safeguard the native species.
Likewise, and with the same objective, this year two kilometres of perimeter fences have been installed in the Gavet hydroelectric canal, in Pallars Jussà, on the left bank of the infrastructure; specifically, between kilometre points 3.5 and 5.6.
This is the fourth action that the company has carried out in the demarcation of Lleida in recent years with the aim of safeguarding the native fauna, preventing it from being washed into a canal and, in the event that it does, making it easier to get out. Sustained work has been done on the design of side ramps to make it easier for animals, including large mammals –such as wild boars and roe deer– as well as amphibians and reptiles, to get out. The initiative was launched in November 2017 with the installation of 6 elements of this type in the Gavet canal (Pallars Jussà): 4 for ungulates and large mammals and 2 for amphibians.
Then, in May 2019, the operation was repeated in the Balaguer canal, in the region of La Noguera, adapted to large mammals. The last one was carried out last May in the last section of the Térmens canal, located in the municipality of Vilanova de la Barca (Segrià), where an evacuation ramp was also installed to help mammals get out of the hydraulic enclosure.
Likewise, as a preventive measure, perimeter fences have also been installed in Gavet on the left bank of the canal, near the Inerts ravine, the main ecological connector that crosses the hydraulic infrastructure in its section before the siphon. In this sense, experimentally and with the aim that large mammals see it faster, the double wave fence that was already on the exit ramp was painted electric blue, since it is the colour that most attracts this type of ungulates. It is intended to be an effective formula for them to find the starting point in a more agile way.
These actions have been planned, coordinated, executed and supervised with the body of Rural Agents of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and is a good example of the agreement that was signed in June 2020 between both parties with the aim of establishing operations aimed at protecting and preserving fauna and the environment in general and, specifically, in those places where the company has hydraulic infrastructures and develops energy activities.
About Endesa
Endesa is the leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. It is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. It is an integrated business operation that encompasses everything from generation to marketing, and through Endesa X it provides added value services aimed at decarbonising the energy used in homes, companies, industries and government agencies. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and as a result decisively promotes the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power Spain, the electrification of the economy and Corporate Social Responsibility. We also work in the latter area through the Endesa Foundation. We have around 10,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.