/EDPR IN THE COMMUNITY
/WIND FARM BENEFITS
Wind farms’ benefits to the community
The setting up and operation of a wind farm must be compatible with preserving the natural environment of the area it is located in. The comprehensive environmental management of all the phases of each EDP Renováveis project (design, construction, operation and dismantlement) is carried out so as to guarantee their environmental feasibility.
It is necessary to ensure that all environmental and sustainable development standards and norms are complied with from the design phase right through to the dismantlement stage. The actions implemented range from the prior authorisation for the prospective site and archaeological and local fauna surveys to the appropriate management of waste and implementation of compensatory measures aimed at minimising the impact on biodiversity.
The compensatory measures that have been implemented to date are:
- Setting up a “feeding trough” for vultures in Riglos (Huesca), in order to ensure the survival of the species.
- Carrying out a study to discover and minimise the impact of wind farms on wolf populations in Galicia. The aim being to find out how wind farms can, for example, affect their reproduction and feeding habits.
- Install dovecotes and introduce various species of pigeon at Boquerón wind farm (Albacete).
- Plant pine trees in the vicinity of the transformer sub-station at EDP’s Santa Quitéria wind farm (Huesca).
A reforestation project is currently underway at Belmonte wind farm (Asturias). The aim is to improve the habitat of a local population of brown bears.
Other good practices guaranteeing the environmental feasibility of our projects have been proposed to local authorities and are awaiting implementation. These comprise:
- Establish a habitat for the rabbit, build water reservoirs for use in fighting fires, ensure that the electricity transmission lines at Munera II wind farm, in Albacete (Spain), comply with Decree 5/1999.
- Carry out a field study of Bonelli’s eagle in the region of Serra de Boquerón wind farm, in Albacete, and build anti-fire devices for fauna (Spain).
- Plant fruit-bearing bush species alongside paths, plant small, 20 metre diameter areas of these same species for each installed turbine and reforest an area identical in size to that established for El Nogal wind farm, in Burgos (Spain).
- Fund the annual campaign to maintain and salvage Montagu’s harrier nests for a minimum of ten years, create new breeding zones and update existing ones, and also mount nesting sites for rollers at Dehesica and Navica wind farms (Albacete, Spain).