Studies
Red Eléctrica adopts preventive measures designed specifically to prevent or minimize the interactions of the installations with their physical setting.
In environmental research, development and innovation, Red Eléctrica works with research teams of recognized prestige to attain goals and results that give an added value to the activity performed. During 2010 the expenditure in R&D&i spearheaded by the Environmental Department reached 618,489 euros. This amount represents 12.3% of the total expenditure on R&D&i.
RESEARCH AREAS
Forest fire fighting and prevention and the protection of flora
- Project Vulcano (2008-2011): this project, which duration is until 2011, is aimed the prevention of forest fires, by means of the development of an assessment methodology and the prevention of conflict between electricity lines and railway networks with their surroundings, throughout their life cycle. More info in the webpage for the VULCANO project: http://www.proyectovulcano.es/
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- "Modelling of the growth of forest masses" project (2010-2013): the work will be carried out jointly with Altran Technologies and the School of Engineering and Mountain Science of the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. The objective of the project is to obtain a forest growth simulation model to prevent possible incidents with high voltage lines with the aim of being able to ensure that the safety distance between the trees and the lines is not encroached upon.
- Pastureland grazing as an alternative technique for the maintenance of electricity line security corridors.
Protection of avifauna
This line of research is carried out in two main fields:
- Reduction of the risk of collision with power lines by marking the ground lines with bird-saver spirals.
- Prevention of bird nesting in lines and substations, transfer of nests from conflictive points of supports to artificial platforms, installation of nesting dissuaders at conflictive points of supports, installation in supports of artificial nesting platforms for birds of prey and the use of substations as resting points for birds of prey.
In 2010, the studies centered mainly on:
- Collision detector: this project carried out in collaboration with the Migres Foundation and the Research Foundation of the University of Seville. Its objective is the design of a detection system for possible impacts, to be installed on grounding cables and that would allow real-time detection of possible collisions and their location in order to act swiftly in the event of accidents.
- Design of birdlife migratory routes in autonomous communities: its objective is to identify the more frequented routes and those used by birds which are more prone to collide with the lines, in its regular migratory movements.
- Testing a model of nesting deterrent for storks (Ciconia ciconia): design of a prototype device that deters the White Stork bird species from nesting and roosting on the electricity line towers.
- Improvements in the habitat of Steppe birds in Andalucía.
