Grid Infrastructure and Migratory Birds

As the second session of IRENA webinar series on Environmental Impacts of Renewables, this webinar was co-organised by IRENA and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU). It took place on 7 November 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET / 17:00 to 18:30 GST.

Grid infrastructure, including electricity transmission and distribution powerlines, plays a vital role in the global energy transition aligning with the Paris climate targets. The rapid deployment of renewables and increased electrification will result in an expansion of powerlines, which may overlap with the habitats or the migratory routes of certain bird species. Collision with and electrocution by powerlines is already a real threat to migratory birds, often leading to debilitating injuries and death. If proper measures are not taken, energy infrastructure may also impact the habitats of these species through habitat fragmentation and degradation.

At the same time, collision and electrocution accidents usually cause disruption to the electricity system, damages to equipment and increasing costs to utility companies. They may also increase the risk of wildfires that may result in the loss of property and/or habitats for which utility companies may be liable. Mitigation measures, including surveys and monitoring, improved planning and retrofitting of powerlines, insulation measures, as well as perch management techniques and others can help avoid and reduce the advert impacts to migratory birds and powerlines, contributing to a more sustainable interaction between energy infrastructure and biodiversity.

With countries pledging to triple renewables, it is important to ensure that energy infrastructure develops in harmony with nature. While solutions and measures are available, policymakers, energy planners and grid owners should take into consideration the interactions between grid infrastructure on migratory species and possible impacts on biodiversity and integrate solutions into their energy planning processes.

This event brought together experts and stakeholders from both the energy sector and the environment community to discuss the current status of this issue, possible options to avoid or mitigate these impacts, challenges for further adoption of solutions and possible policies to address them. The Raptors MOU presented findings related to migratory birds and renewable energy. A panel session joined by experts from Endangered Wildlife Trust, Renewables Grid Initiative, EDM International, Inc and other stakeholders will share their insights and best practices.

The meeting participation was open to the public.