The energy company Endesa has launched a plan to adapt 130 electrical network poles in the Girona region throughout this year. The primary objective is to minimize the risk of electrocution and collision for birds, thereby contributing to their conservation. This initiative is part of a broader plan being implemented across Catalonia, which will involve nearly 1,500 poles.
The company is working closely with local administrations to identify priority lines, pinpoint areas most sensitive to birdlife, and monitor the progress of these actions. The modifications are based on technical criteria and species conservation, prioritizing poles with the greatest potential impact on birds. These improvements also positively affect the quality and continuity of the electricity supply to customers, as they prevent service interruptions caused by bird-related accidents with the infrastructure.
The adaptations focus on three main areas: modifying the pole tops, altering existing equipment, and installing protective elements. This includes protective covers, anti-collision devices such as spirals and bird scarers, silicone sheaths, cable insulation, longer polymer insulators to increase safety distances, and features like "bird savers" or reflective devices on high-voltage lines.
Concurrently, Endesa is replacing sections of low-voltage lines in wooded areas with bundled cables. This new cabling reduces the physical footprint of the line and enhances its environmental integration, while also visually reinforcing the cable's presence to prevent collisions.
The company emphasizes the importance of regulatory support for advancing bird protection, advocating for the new framework to economically incentivize and prioritize these network adaptation measures, thereby accelerating the energy transition and biodiversity conservation.
Beyond network modifications, Endesa participates in various conservation initiatives, including protecting the hermit ibis in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, improving knowledge of bats in energy environments, maintaining feeding stations for large raptors, and projects for the recovery of the roller bird and the promotion of the lesser kestrel in Girona.
