Rețele Electrice România contributes to the protection of migratory birds whose routes reach the Danube Delta area, through a project carried out, in Romania, in partnership with the Administrația Rezervației Biosferei Delta Dunării and co-financed by the European Union. Thus, at the end of September, the installation of anti-collision devices on for about 36 km of medium and high voltage electrical networks, as well as electro insulating sheaths, was completed in the areas with the highest risk.
The initiative is part of the Life Danube Free Sky biodiversity project, a transnational programme that aims to protect birds from electric shock and collision with power lines along the Danube. Within the project, 2,700 anti-collision diverters were installed on medium voltage lines and 350 diverters on high voltage lines. The diverters were installed on several medium and high voltage lines in Tulcea and Constanta counties, having a high degree of risk regarding the collision and electrocution of birds. These lines were selected following the conclusions of a specialized study drawn up in 2022. Also, almost 300 electro insulating sheaths were installed to cover the segments of electrical conductors in the vicinity of the poles.
By installing diverters on overhead power lines, birds can more easily see the power lines from a distance, thus avoiding accidents. At the same time, insulating sleeves reduce the risk of electrocution in areas where birds choose to stop to rest or build their nests.
The total investment of the project amounts to approximately 1.8 million lei, of which 1.3 million lei came from the European Union’s “Life” financing program, while approximately 500,000 lei were from the company’s own funds.
As part of the project, the following were also carried out: awareness and education campaigns for local communities on the importance of protecting biodiversity; monitoring the effectiveness of the measures implemented.
So far, Reţele Electrice România has installed over 2,900 diverters to protect birds in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, as part of the LIFE Danube Free Sky project. The company Reţele Electrice Romania supports the protection of biodiversity and carries out projects, in collaboration with specialists and associations dedicated to these causes, to protect the fauna in all the counties where it operates.