OCCUPATION OF PROTECTED AREAS

Itemised by facility and types of space

One of our main criteria when selecting the location of new infrastructures is to avoid their location in protected areas or places of high value for biodiversity. Some of Iberdrola's infrastructures are in protected areas, or areas of great importance for biodiversity, the majority built prior to these declarations of protection. Throughout the entire group, this amounts to around 25,000 km of our electrical distribution lines (2.2% of the total lines) and 40,000 ha of power generation facilities, mainly due to protection of reservoirs in hydroelectric power station locations.

Iberdrola's commitment to the protection and conservation of these areas follows the principles set out in its Biodiversity Policy [PDF], through its environmental management systems, action plans and monitoring of habitats restored and/or compensated following the positive conservation management principle.

 SPAIN

The presence of reservoirs in protected spaces is 68.1% of the total space occupied by reservoirs. Within biosphere reserves, national parks, Ramsar wetlands and natural parks, these reservoirs take up 1.15% of the surface area of these protected areas.

The Cofrentes Nuclear Plant is located within the Natura 2000 Network. The protected areas are the SCI: Muela de Cortés and the Caroig, and the SPA: Sierra de Martés - Muela de Cortés.

In the case of wind farms, only 8% of our wind farms are in protected nature areas, mainly in the Natura 2000 Network occupying just 0.000016% of the Network total.

 List of facilities and location in relation to protected areas or areas of high biodiversity value [PDF]

 Reservoirs in protected spaces [PDF]

 UNITED KINGDOM

ScottishPower Renewables has two wind farms in Scotland adjacent to the Natura 2000 network, Clachan Flats and Arecleoch. In England, the repowered Carland Cross wind farm is located next to an SAC and an SSSI. Most of the wind farms in the United Kingdom are within peatland habitats and 13 have management plans for these kinds of habitats that are included in the UK's Biodiversity Priority Action Plan and in appendix 1 of the EU's Habitats Directive. The Lynemouth wind farm in England is located in an area of high biodiversity, since anatidae overwinter there.

 List of facilities and location in relation to protected areas [PDF]

 USA

There are no wind farms in protected environments. The length of the high voltage power lines (115 kV or higher) operated by our subsidiaries NYSEG, RG&G and CMP is 5,832 kilometres, of which 7% lie next to or cross protected areas (402 km). Of these, NYSEG has a total of 3,529 km of transmission lines of 115 kV or more. Approximately 382 km (12%) of these are adjacent to or cross protected areas with high biodiversity. These areas include the State of New York Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve (72 km), the State of New York Catskill Park and Forest Preserve (57 km) and the UN Biosphere Reserve Champlain - Adirondack (210 km).

The CMP subsidiary has a total of 1,900 km of transmission lines of 115 kV or higher. Approximately 18 km (1%) of these are adjacent to or cross protected areas.

The RG&E subsidiary has a total of 403 km of 115 kV or higher transmission lines. Approximately 2.1 km (0.51%) of these are adjacent to or cross protected areas with high biodiversity. The only protected area crossed by the power lines is NYS Letchworth Park.

List of facilities and their locations in relation to protected nature areas or areas of high biodiversity value
Facility Location with respect to the protected area Affected Surface/Length Degree of protection(1)
Spain      
Reservoirs Inside, or partialy inside 30,758 ha
31 reservoirs		 Biosphere reserves, Ramsar Wetlands, Natura 2000 network, national parks and Nature Parks
Power lines Inside 19,314 km Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Park, Nature Park, Biosphere Reserves
Substations Inside 144 installations Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Park, Nature Park, Biosphere Reserves
Transformer stations Inside 8,793 stations Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Park, Nature Park, Biosphere Reserves
Wind farms Inside 374 ha
14 farms		 Natura 2000 network and nature areas
       
United Kingdom      
Power lines Inside 3,677 km NSA, SPA, SAC, Ramsar, NNR, SSSI
Substations Inside 367 units NSA, SPA, SAC, Ramsar, NNR, SSSI
Transformer stations Inside 8,608 units NSA, SPA, SAC, Ramsar, NNR, SSSI
Wind farms Adjacent 3 ha Natura 2000 network and SAC, SSSI
Wind farms Partially inside 9,321 ha Natura 2000 network and SAC, SSSI
       
United States      
Wind farms Inside or near 0 Protected areas designated by each Federal State, which may be Biosphere Reserves, forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges and those that have a high ecological value without having such protection.
Power lines Partially inside 402 km
       
Brazil      
Power lines Inside 1,881 km Areas of environmental protection
Substations Inside 19 installations Areas of environmental protection
Transformer stations Inside 4,388 stations Areas of environmental protection
Hydroelectric power plants Inside or near 293 ha Areas protected by Brazilian legislation
       
Mexico      
Generation plant Adjacent 1 Production centre Areas of environmental protection
Wind farms Adjacent 1 wind farm Areas of environmental protection
       
Greece      
Wind farms Partially inside 15.64 ha Natura 2000 network
       
Hungary      
Wind farms Near 1 wind farm Close to areas of the Natura 2000 network, one included within a National Park
       
Portugal      
Wind farms Inside or near 1 wind farm Natura 2000 network area, and a National Park
       
Romania      
Wind farms Near 1 wind farm Close to areas of the Natura 2000 network, one included within a National Park
       

 

(1) Designations of the main protected areas:

SPA: Special Protection Area for Birds, according to the EC Birds Directive.

SCI: Site of Community Importance, according to the EC Habitats Directive.

SAC: Special Area of Conservation, according to the EC Habitats Directive.

Ramsar: Wetlands of international importance, according to the Convention signed in Ramsar.

SSSI: Site of special scientific interest (UK designation).

NSA: National scenic areas (UK).

NNR: National nature reserve (UK).

 

Iberdrola identifies endangered species included in the UICN Red List and the national and regional lists for the areas in which it operates through its environmental management systems and/or observation programs.

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