OCCUPATION OF PROTECTED AREAS

Itemised by facility and types of space

The areas where Iberdrola operates are also home to numerous wild animals and plants, some of which are officially protected.

Knowing in which protected areas and places rich in biodiversity the group operates is key to correct managements of its activities, analysing their potential impact to adopt mitigation measures or implement restoration and conservation projects.

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 63% 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.

Only 7% of our wind farms are located in protected natural areas or Special Protection Areas for Birds, occupying only 0.000016% of the total network.

 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 does not have onshore wind farms in protected areas.

ScottishPower Renewables operates some of its 23 wind farms on the fens; a habitat included in the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan for priority species and in Annex 1 of the European Union habitats directive.

The Lynemouth wind farm in England is also in an area with rich biodiversity, due to its importance as a winter haven for swans and geese.

In Ireland, the Barnesmore wind farm is on the Barnesmore Bog Natural Heritage Site (CNS).

ScottishPower Renewables has committed to restoring more than 8,000 ha of fens in all wind farms, by implementing Habitat Management Plans (HMP). Approximately 580 ha of native forest (a habitat included in the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan for priority species) is already being established at 17 farms.

The East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm is in a special South North Sea Special Conservation Area (SNS SAC). Approximately 200 km2 of the East Anglia One project lie within the southern part of the SNS SAC (winter component) designated to protect porpoises, which accounts for 0.5% of the total area designated for the SNS SAC. The area was formally designated in 2019 after the construction of East Anglia ONE began in 2018. The export cable corridor, the East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm, crosses the Outer Thames Estuary Special Protected Area (SPA) which supports a winter population of red throat divers, which is sensitive to disturbance and displacement from the boat. The export cable corridor crosses the Bawdsey Cliffs SSSI, which is of great geological interest and has potential for studies of Pleistocene non-glacial environments. The SSSI is by far the largest site for Red Crag and is rich in marine molluscs.

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

 USA

Only one of the 64 onshore wind farms (2%) is located within a protected area with high biodiversity. This is the Deerfield Wind Project, which covers approximately 32 hectares within the Green Mountain National Forest in Bennington County, Vermont. Deerfield was the first wind project to be authorised and built on National Forest land. The main authorising agency is the National Forest Service.

A total of 404 km of transmission lines (3%) and 15 substations lie within protected areas with high biodiversity. These areas include New York State's Adirondack Park and Forest Reserve, New York State's Catskill Park and Forest Reserve, Letchwork Park, the United Nations' Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Reserve, and Connecticut West Rock State Park.

Avangrid Networks also operates and maintains nine hydroelectric projects, two of which are located within New York State's Adirondack 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      
Hydroelectric power plants - Reservoirs Inside 31,505 ha Biosphere reserves, Ramsar Wetlands, Natura 2000 Network, national parks and natural parks.
Power lines Inside 19,315 km Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Park, Nature Park, Biosphere Reserves
Substations Inside 131 installations Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Park, Nature Park, Biosphere Reserves
Transformer stations Inside 8,425 units Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Park, Nature Park, Biosphere Reserves
Onshore wind farms Inside 343 ha Natura 2000 network, nature areas and important areas for birds and diversity
Nuclear power plants Inside 82 ha Natura 2000 network
Adjacent 2 plants Natura 2000 network
Thermal power plants Adjacent 7 plants Natura 2000 network, protected landscapes, biosphere reserves and protected marine areas
       
United Kingdom      
Power lines Inside 3,580 km National Park, Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Substations Inside 399 units National Park, National scenic areas (NSA), Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetlands, National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Space of special scientific interest (SSSI)
Transformer stations Inside 8,699 units National Park, National scenic areas (NSA), Natura 2000 network, Ramsar Wetladns, National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Space of special scientific Interest (SSSI)
Offshore wind farms Inside 36,700 ha Natura 2000 network and Protected marine áreas (MCZ)
Onshore wind farms Partially inside 9,035 ha Space of special scientific interest(SSSI) and Priority Habitat from Annex, Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE)
       
United States      
Wind farms Inside or near 32 ha National Forest Systems
       
Brazil      
Power lines Inside 67,275 Km Areas of environmental protection
Substations Inside 110 units Areas of environmental protection
Transformer stations Inside 90,929 units Areas of environmental protection
Hydroelectric power plants Inside 3,355 ha Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), High-Biodiversity Wilderness Areas (HBWAs), UNESCO-declared Biosphere Reserves, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), Private Nature Park Reserves (RPPNs) - Brazil
Adjacent 1 unit UNESCO-declared Biosphere Reserves, Nationals Parks, Natural Monument, -Brazil, National Park (Pama)
Wind Farm Inside 6 farms Key Biodiversity areas (KBA)
Adjacent 2 farms Key Biodiversity areas (KBA), Areas of environmental Protection (APA)
       
Mexico      
None      
       
Greece      
Wind farms and photovoltaic plants Partially inside 131 ha Natura 2000 network and Important Biodiversity Area (IBA)
       
Hungary      
Wind farms Near 3 wind farms Close to areas of the Natura 2000 network and Ramsar Wetlands
       
Portugal      
Wind farms Adjacent 1 wind farm Natural reserve
       
Romania      
Wind farms Adjacent 1 wind farm Natura 2000 network
       
Germany      
None      
       

 

(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).

(2) Combined cycle, cogeneration, and coal-fired plants.

 

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.