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, 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.
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.
| 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.