The conference took place on December 3 and brought together public entities, experts, and partners to discuss the topic of sustainability in electricity grid management.
In his opening speech, José Ferrari Careto highlighted sustainability as a pillar of E-REDES, supported by more than two decades of collaboration with scientific and environmental entities. He referred to the company's progress in vegetation management, which has mobilized around €100 million over the last decade, strengthening safety, grid resilience, the relationship with the territory, and the protection of birdlife.
My greatest desire in vegetation management is to be able to apply the models we already know and use on a small scale on a large scale.
The Secretary of State for Forestry, Rui Ladeira, emphasized the importance of vegetation management in ensuring network safety and reducing the risk of fire. He highlighted the challenges posed by the fragmentation of rural property and the potential of compatible uses under power lines to enhance the value of the territory and strengthen biodiversity.
Conserving nature in times of energy transition
In the panel dedicated to conservation in times of energy transition, Lucía Santalla (EDP Redes Spain) presented a case study of ecological recovery in Cantabria, demonstrating how vegetation management can be aligned with grid operation. Carlos Marinho presented the ANTARR Project, which proposes an integrated model for promoting natural capital based on landscape-scale planning, fire risk reduction, biodiversity enhancement, and carbon sequestration.
The first debate, moderated by Nuno Gaspar de Oliveira (NBI), featured Carla Cruz (University of Évora), Sandra Sarmento (ICNF), and José Gaspar (ForestWise). The speakers addressed European biodiversity targets, including the Nature Restoration Law, and the challenges of Fuel Management Strips. They argued that it is possible to reduce risk by promoting biodiversity and integrated planning, fostering innovation in reducing the ecological footprint and rethinking the planning of strips, highlighting that nature-based models can reduce risk and generate value in natural capital.
Birdlife: two decades of work and new solutions to protect vulnerable species
Birdlife was the focus of the second part of the conference, with Inês Cândido Silva presenting the results of more than twenty years of joint work between E-REDES, ICNF, and several NGOs. She highlighted the 10 Birdlife Protocols, the LIFE Projects, and the technical measures already implemented across more than 2,100 km of network, reducing the risks of collision and electrocution.
This was followed by a presentation by Ingrid Marchand (LPO), who shared the experience of the French Committee for Avifauna and the LIFE SafeLines4Birds Project, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in adapting solutions for bird protection. The final debate also featured Pedro Bingre do Amaral (LPN), Miguel Henriques (ICNF), and Luís Pires (E-REDES), who discussed the evolution of protocols, the role of CTALEA in data collection, and the potential of technology for installing devices and monitoring. The speakers advocated for more agile processes, innovative solutions to reduce risks, and greater integration of science into decision-making.
João Martins de Carvalho, member of the Board of Directors of E-REDES, thanked everyone for attending and emphasized that sustainability is essential for the future of the electricity grid, reinforcing the company's commitment to integrating environmental criteria into its operations.
