Meeting Europe's renewable energy targets in harmony with - RSPB

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RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY 51 Expansion of renewable energy will require new power lines to be built. terms of bird safety. When above ground, lowvoltage supply lines often use well-insulated cables, directly attached to support poles, which is the second-best solution. Collision risks are minimised, because the black cables are highly visible. The risk of electrocution is low, because of the relatively low voltage and the high electrical resistance of birds. Collision risk with low-voltage power lines is higher when thin wires which are hardly visible are used. Generally, the risk of collision can be reduced by using single-level wire arrangements, or by changing to insulated cables (Haas et al., 2005). Medium-voltage power lines. World-wide the majority of medium-voltage (1,000–59,000 volts) power lines are still above-ground. Often, the conductor cables are attached via relatively short insulators to poles constructed of conducting material. Birds on the earthed pole can easily reach the energised conductor cables, or vice-versa. A similar risk of collision exists with medium-voltage power lines to low-voltage lines. Fortunately, most medium-voltage power lines have conductor cables arranged on a single level, which reduces the risk (Haas et al., 2005). Overhead power lines on railways typically transmit power at 10,000–15,000 volts and therefore represent a similar level of risk to birds to other medium-voltage lines. Similar aspects of bird safety must be taken into consideration when designing such equipment (Haas et al., 2005).
52 MEETING EUROPE’S RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS IN HARMONY WITH NATURE High-voltage power lines. High-voltage power lines are almost exclusively above ground. Because of their long suspended insulators, the risk of electrocution is generally low. Death by collision with the cables is by far the largest danger posed by high-voltage power lines. Different tower constructions are in use and present varying levels of risk. The highest risks are posed by those power lines where the conductor cables are arranged at different heights (multi-level arrangements), and with earth/neutral cables high above the conductor cables. Less dangerous constructions are in use, which have the conductor cables arranged at one height (single-level arrangement) and with the neutral cable only slightly higher (Haas et al., 2005). Birds can collide with power lines, or suffer electrocution. 2.7.1 MAIN CONSERVATION RISKS Overview Research suggests that collisions with human built structures are the largest unintended human cause of avian fatalities worldwide. Although bird collisions with power lines are a relatively small part of this problem, it is considered to be a significant localised phenomenon. From a conservation point of view it is of serious concern to conservationists for two reasons: (1) when it takes place at specific high risk locations which exposes large numbers of birds to crippling and mortal danger and (2) when it affects already threatened species for which an additional risk factor may prove fatal. Although collisions affect many species, statistically the birds most prone to collision are the large bodied species with proportionally small wingspan (eg, some birds of prey, pelicans, storks, bustards, cranes and waterfowl) or birds that congregate in large numbers during migration (eg, flocks of passerines and waterbirds). Collisions take place most often at specific high-risk locations, such as in proximity of wetlands or on a migration route to foraging grounds. Visibility is also thought to play a significant part with increasing risk in poor lighting (including at night for night migrants). In Europe it was estimated that approximately 25% of juvenile and 6% of adult white stork died annually from power line collisions and electrocutions over a 16-year period (Schaub and Pradel, 2004). Electrocution is considered to be the primary mortality factor for a number of threatened species, such as the Spanish and Eastern Imperial eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and Egyptian vulture. Electrocution is primarily associated with the lowand medium-voltage power lines (distribution network) and to a large extent is a function of the pole design. As electrocution is better studied it is now confirmed that the risks of electrocution are aggravated by increases in the energy demand of certain regions. It is particularly prevalent in natural areas where the introduction of power lines is a cause of significant disruption to local species (Rollan et al., 2010), and even local extinctions, for example of the eagle owl in parts of the Alps and the Apennines (Sergio et al., 2004). Risk of electrocution Birds are attracted by power poles, just as they are attracted by large dead trees in the open countryside. They are favoured as lookout points, as well as perching and roosting sites, and are sometimes used for nesting. Birds sitting on power poles and/or conducting cables are killed if they produce a short
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Page 3 and 4: Meeting Europe’s Renewable Energy
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HOW TO ACHIEVE A EUROPEAN RENEWABLE
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This Chapter provides an evaluation
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TABLE 4 BirdLife Partners’ evalua
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NATIONAL AND EU
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REFERENCES 129 Daunt, F. (2006) Mar
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REFERENCES 131 Lonsdale, D., Pautas
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ENDNOTES 133 ENDNOTES i Chris Huhne
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Birdlife European and Central Asian
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Meeting Europe's renewable energy targets in harmony with - RSPB

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