ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CLIMATE ACTION (E)Protection of biodiversity

GRI 103-1
Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary
GRI 304-2
Significant impacts of products and services on biodiversity of protected areas including areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

We implement all investment projects in a way that minimises key threats to nature and avoids the risk of biodiversity loss. Already at the stage of planning the route of lines and the location of substations, we ensure that the infrastructure collides as little as possible with environmentally sensitive areas. In subsequent phases of project implementation, we analyse the technical and technological feasibility of minimising impacts associated with the construction and subsequent operation of network facilities. In case of completed investments, for which the environmental decisions indicate the obligation to conduct environmental monitoring, we focus on its performance and analysis of the obtained results. This allows us to assess whether the solutions we have implemented are effective, and thus - whether we have managed to minimise the impact on the natural environment.

The unavoidable consequences of our investments include the loss of some habitats due to tree cutting in the technological strip of the line, among others, in forest areas. However, by using over-forest or forest pole technology, we manage to significantly reduce tree cutting – sometimes only to pole locations. 'Forest' poles are poles that, together with V-shaped insulator chains, allow the wires to be hung closer to the pole structure, i.e. allowing the width of the line to be reduced, which translates into cutting fewer trees. By contrast, the use of 'over-forest' poles means that the line conductors are suspended above the treetops.

At the stages of project implementation and operation, we endeavour to ensure that tree cutting works in the technological strip of the line are carried out in a way that limits their impact on the natural environment. These works are carried out outside the breeding season and, if necessary, under the supervision of naturalists, in particular ornithologists or chiropterologists.

As a consequence of the construction of the EHV lines, some habitats are destroyed. This is due to the transformation of the land where they were present. However, it is important to remember that new habitats are created in place of old ones as a result of other plant and animal species colonising the area. As a result of the removal of undergrowth below the EHV line, the amount of plants characteristic of open areas increases and the number of insects providing a food base for birds rises.

Replacement planting was carried out in 2021 due to tree cutting as part of the construction of Praga substation and the introduction of 220 kV Miłosna–Mory line and the construction of Jasiniec–Grudziądz Węgrowo line. The cost of replacement planting in connection with the construction of SE Praga was approximately PLN 694,000 in 2021, and for Jasiniec–Grudziądz Węgrowo line – PLN 210,000.

With a view to protecting the biodiversity and abundance of birds in power line location areas, warning markers or bird warning spirals are used on line conductors. This reduces bird mortality by reducing the number of bird collisions with line conductors. As part of the activities carried out in 2021 on Baczyna–Krajnik, Chełm–Lublin Systemowa, Morzyczyn–Recław, Czarna–Pasikurowice and Mikułowa–Czarna power lines, markers in the form of bird warning spirals were installed on designated sections of these lines.

Environmental monitoring expenses

In 2021, as part of the investment tasks for the 400 kV line between Warsaw agglomeration and Siedlce, bird and bat mortality monitoring was carried out on Pelplin–Gdańsk Przyjaźń, Grudziądz–Pelplin, Jasiniec–Grudziądz Węgrowo and Ostrołęka–Olsztyn Mątki lines. The table below shows, among other things, the costs of the monitoring incurred by PSE in 2021.

Name of the investment task	Description	Costs incurred in 2021 (in PLN)

Construction of the 400 kV line along with the change in the EHV network layout between Warsaw agglomeration and Siedlce	Costs of monitoring	45,000
Construction of the 400 kV line from the 400/110 kV Czarna substation to the 220/110 kV Polkowice substation	Costs of monitoring	28,000
Substation modernisation	Costs of building an autotransformer stand	800,000
Substation modernisation	Costs of installing the separator	80,000
Construction of 400 kV Jasiniec–Grudziądz Węgrowo line,	Costs of monitoring, replacement planting, construction of a platform for the white-tailed eagle and cleaning of nesting boxes.	248,000
Construction of 400 kV Olsztyn Mątki–Ostrołęka line.	Costs of monitoring	209,600
Construction of 220/110 kV Praga (Żerań) substation and introduction of 220 kV Miłosna–Mory line	Costs of replacement planting	694,390

TOTAL		2,104,990

Tab. Examples of the costs of environmental monitoring, planting and other measures implemented in connection with PSE infrastructure investments in 2021.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CLIMATE ACTION (E)Protection of biodiversity

Environmental monitoring expenses

PSE's priorities in the area of environmental protection

Compensation measures in connection with the construction of a line or substation

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