Developing and maintaining the grid in a sustainable manner

To facilitate its role in the energy transition, Elia believes it is important that its mission and activities fall within a sustainable framework which complies with environmental legislation. We want to forge relationships with all stakeholders by promoting dialogue and collaboration so that we can respond as effectively as possible to the community’s expectations.

ESTABLISHING CORRIDORS BENEATH HIGH-VOLTAGE LINES

The LIFE* Elia project, in partnership with RTE (France), was launched in September 2011 and is subsidised by the European Commission and the Walloon Region. It aims to create green corridors beneath high-voltage lines in forested areas. 2015 was an especially positive year for the project. With an extension secured for a further 16 months until 31 December 2017, the additional funds provided by Elia and RTE will enable the best possible preparations to be made for long-term management of project sites, applications outside the project’s initial scope to be considered and LIFE-project actions to be combined as effectively as possible with the corridor extensions envisaged within the framework of securing overhead lines. In November 2015, the LIFE project won the Environmental Protection category of the Good Practice of the Year awards organised by the Renewables Grid Initiative. The LIFE project currently covers 33 municipalities in Wallonia and 240 private landowners. A total of 45 farmers, hunters and foresters along with four federations (owners of public and private woodland, hunters and nature reserves) are working with the LIFE team on this multi-actor project. Elia’s decision to hone in on sustainable management of its corridors has paid off. The model is being replicated throughout Europe: in November 2015, the Portuguese transmission system operator REN signed a LIFE contract to implement sustainable ways of managing corridors in Portugal. The LIFE project is also a shining example of the level of involvement local players can have, and the impact of such projects and involvement on public acceptance of electricity infrastructure.

Elia encourages biodiversity under its high-voltage lines.

RENEWABLES GRID INITIATIVE

Since 2011, Elia and 50Hertz have been members of the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI), a coalition of nature conservation groups (such as the WWF and Birdlife) and system operators. Their shared aim is to generate consensus around the grid expansion needed to integrate renewables while respecting biodiversity and the environment. The European Commission called the Renewables Grid Initiative a pioneering alliance for promoting grid development that is environmentally and socially friendly.

Elia’s decision to hone in on sustainable management of its corridors has paid off. The model is being replicated throughout Europe.

MORE INFORMATION

www.renewables-grid.eu

BEEHIVES IN THE VICINITY OF ELIA FACILITIES

In late 2014, Elia installed two beehives at its Monnoyer site. The bees there are responsible for 80% of plant-, fruit- and vegetable pollination and are crucial to maintaining the natural balance of the flora and fauna there.

Looking ahead, beehives could be used within the framework of the LIFE Elia project and installed beneath our overhead lines. Partnerships could also be forged with associations to use bees as a bioindicator; pollen samples could be analysed to determine the quality of the environment around the hives. This option is currently being studied and forms part of our strategy to boost public acceptance of our facilities.

Elia believes it is vital to realise its mission and conduct its activities sustainably, in full compliance with environmental legislation.

RISKS FOR BIRDS

Some high-voltage lines are practically invisible to flying birds, especially in foggy conditions or at dusk or at night. Large numbers of birds collide with high-voltage lines in Belgium each year. Elia commissioned Aves (the ornithological arm of Natagora), Natuurpunt, Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen and the Flemish Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) to map the lines most hazardous for birds. On the basis of this study, Elia is making adjustments to its network of high-voltage lines in a bid to significantly reduce the number of birds colliding with lines. Daily checks in 2015 following a project to eliminate collisions altogether conducted in Oudenaarde in 2014 revealed that there had been a 97% reduction in the number of birds injured or killed beneath conductors on the high-voltage line. These findings prompted action in 2015 and a policy on ‘danger lines’ for the years ahead.

CARBON ASSESSMENT

Energy transition is a vital step in the face of climate change. While Elia is already implementing projects to upgrade its grid and integrate a higher proportion of renewables into the energy mix, we also want to adopt an internal model which reflects and supports the energy transition. One way to do this is to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases. In 2015, Elia reduced greenhouse-gas emissions from its noncore activities by 9% compared with 2009. This was achieved largely through more efficient energy consumption in administrative buildings. Despite a range of measures already in place, though, mobility remains a significant source of emissions. An action plan to reduce CO2 emissions has been drawn up whereby Elia should be able to cut its current emissions by approximately 20% by 2020 (reducing energy consumption in buildings, increasing the proportion of green energy consumed, improving the environmental performance of the Group’s vehicles and eco-driving, etc.).

OUR BUILDINGS

When constructing new buildings, Elia follows a policy of sustainable development and respect for the environment, a commitment which is also reflected in our mission statement. New Elia buildings comply with sustainable-building principles as certified under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). This certification is based on nine analysis criteria (management, health and wellbeing, energy, transport, materials, waste, water, land use, ecology and pollution) and is the benchmark standard when it comes to sustainable construction.

Construction of the new administrative building at the Créalys Science Park at Isnes (Gembloux) was completed in November 2015. The design of this new site was rooted firmly in an environmentally friendly and ‘passive’ strategy, and has already received a Very Good preliminary BREEAM certification. The project is following the passive-building model of the Monnoyer administrative building, which has been BREEAM-certified since 2014.

NEW SPECIFICATIONS FOR UTILITY VEHICLES

Any business in the Brussels-Capital Region employing more than 100 people is required to draw up a corporate mobility plan every three years and to implement a number of mandatory measures. The purpose of the plan is twofold: to reduce the company’s environmental impact and to reduce congestion on roads in and around Brussels.

Elia is keen to move to a greener fleet of vehicles to reduce its utility vehicles’ CO2 emissions. In 2015, three CNG-powered Fiat Doblo (Ecoscore 75) vehicles joined the fleet. CNG (compressed natural gas) is a fuel obtained from compressing natural city gas; it emits 12% less CO2 than petrol and 27% less than diesel. As soon as the supply and range of electric vehicles reach an appropriate level, they will join the Group’s fleet too. Going forward, utility vehicles will be replaced every seven to ten years.

SPONSORSHIP: THE ELIA FUND

The Elia Fund is a philanthropic initiative set up when Elia was established, in partnership with the King Baudouin Foundation (KBS-FRB). It is a flagship partnership in its field and provides completely independent and transparent fund management that reflects the company’s values. In 2015, the Elia Fund adjusted its sponsorship policy by moving to supporting projects combatting fuel poverty. The first sponsored associations will receive funding in 2016.

MORE INFORMATION

For further details visit https://www.kbs-frb.be/.

-97 %

INJURED BIRDS BENEATH HIGH-VOLTAGE LINES FITTED WITH MARKING SPHERES

-9 %

CO2 EMISSIONS FROM NON CORE ACTIVITIES IN 2015