Endesa adapts 11,000 transmission towers to protect birdlife

• Its networks subsidiary, e-distribución, has committed to ensuring that any new transmission towers installed on the grid will be designed to minimise risks to birds.
• Endesa works in coordination with public authorities to upgrade existing power lines, prioritising areas of high environmental sensitivity.
• Recognising the investments required to adapt the grid will be key to accelerating the development of electricity infrastructure that is safer for birds and compatible with the environment.

Over the past two years, Endesa’s networks subsidiary, e-distribución, has adapted 11,000 overhead power line supports across its distribution network to minimise risks to birdlife. These design and adaptation measures aim to balance the operation and development of the distribution network – which is essential for advancing the energy transition – with the conservation of biodiversity around power lines, reducing the risk of bird electrocution and collision.

Endesa places the protection and regeneration of biodiversity and natural capital at the core of its environmental strategy, recognising its fundamental role in community wellbeing and in achieving a just and inclusive energy transition. In line with its Biodiversity Conservation Plan, the Company has committed to ensuring no net loss of biodiversity in highly relevant projects from 2025 onwards, progressively extending this approach to 40% of new projects in 2027, and reaching 100% by 2030.

Endesa works in coordination with public authorities to progressively upgrade existing lines, prioritising areas of high environmental sensitivity. Furthermore, the company’s networks subsidiary went a step further earlier this year, publicly committing to the central government and conservation organisations that any new supports installed on the grid will be designed to minimise these risks from the outset.

These advances require a regulatory push to enable decisive and effective progress in protecting birdlife. To achieve this, it is essential that the new regulatory framework replacing the currently active 2008 Royal Decree remunerates and prioritises grid adaptation measures that prevent risks to birds. This will help accelerate the energy transition while guaranteeing biodiversity protection.

Endesa’s networks subsidiary has been implementing various measures to protect birdlife for years. On the one hand, new power line routes are designed in compliance with regulations and bird flight corridors. They incorporate components and designs that minimise the risk of collision and electrocution.

On the other hand, an annual analysis is conducted to identify priority lines requiring upgrades, based on guidelines set by each autonomous community. Work is prioritised according to technical criteria focused on species conservation, ensuring urgent action on structures posing the greatest risk to birdlife.

These adaptations include the installation of bird flight diverters on power lines to make them more visible, allowing birds to alter their flight path and avoid collisions. Additionally, power line supports are adapted to ensure a safe distance between the bird and any live components.

A commitment to innovation

Alongside traditional measures – such as flight diverters, insulating live components, anti-roosting devices, crossarm modifications, and support replacements – Endesa is incorporating new technological solutions to reinforce birdlife protection.

Notable among these initiatives is an ongoing pilot project in Catalonia, located at two sites in Lleida and Barcelona. This project relies on the controlled generation of electromagnetic fields (EMF) to deter birds from approaching the facilities. The goal is to prevent them from roosting or nesting on critical distribution network assets, minimising both the risk to birdlife and any disruptions to the continuity of the power supply.

Biodiversity protection

Beyond preventive and corrective measures, Endesa has spent years promoting and participating in various voluntary initiatives to protect biodiversity and iconic bird species in the regions where it manages the distribution network (Andalusia, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, and Extremadura). These include the European Commission's LIFE Programmes and other conservation projects for emblematic species: the Coracias project to protect the European roller, and protection programmes for the capercaillie, the cinereous vulture, the bearded vulture, the osprey, and the red kite.

Over the past year, conservation efforts for the osprey continued in the provinces of Cádiz and Huelva, involving the ringing of chicks, the fitting of GPS transmitters to adult specimens, and nest monitoring using camera traps. Furthermore, progress was made in adapting anti‑climbing structures on supports located within the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park, which also serve as a refuge for bats and small nocturnal birds of prey.

As part of the 'LIFE Eurokite' project for red kite conservation, 32 chicks were released to bolster the population of this threatened species.

In Aragon, e-distribución signed an agreement last year with the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture, under the LIFE Pro-BV Quebrantahuesos project, to carry out upgrading works in the Maestrazgo area of Teruel.

In the Balearic Islands, Endesa has collaborated with the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) to analyse the electricity infrastructure to minimise the risk to birdlife on line supports. Artificial intelligence is being used for image recognition and the analysis of historical data to propose criteria to the authorities for prioritising the most effective birdlife protection actions.

In Catalonia, notable efforts included last year's work on the northern bald ibis project in the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park in Girona, where a total of 42 supports were adapted as part of Endesa's Biodiversity Conservation Plan.

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. Endesa operates an integrated business model spanning electricity generation, distribution, and supply. Furthermore, the company offers value-added services focused on the electrification of energy use for households, businesses, and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations’ SDGs and corporate social responsibility. In the latter area, it also operates through the Endesa Foundation. Our team comprises around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.