RGI Workshop Stakeholders perspectives on offshore grids

and the marine environment Bergen 27/6/2013

Guidance document on electricity, gas and oil infrastructures and Natura 2000

Fotios Papoulias DG Environment, Nature unit

2

Guidance document on electricity, gas and oil infrastructures and Natura 2000

Objectives/nature

  Identify the potential impacts from energy infrastructures on species and habitats, and suggest mitigation measures and best practices

  Focus on the appropriate assessment of effects on Natura 2000 sites

  Useful for all parties involved in the development and approval process of energy infrastructure developments (authorities, investors, consultants, site managers, NGOs, public, international bodies …)

  Non-legally binding document of the Commission services

4  

2  

1  

3  

7  

6  

5  

Agenda  

Objectives

Potential impacts from energy infrastructures

EU policy framework for nature & biodiversity

Energy infrastructure development in the EU

Step-by-step guidance for an AA

Strategic planning

Annexes

3

Structure of the document

4

Energy infrastructure development in the EU

  Energy infrastructures in the EU:   Electricity powerlines (terrestrial and marine)   Gas (terrestrial and marine) and oil (terrestrial) pipelines

  European 2050 Energy roadmap   Development of new and flexible infrastructure, to accommodate

possible pathways of energy futures

  Priorities for 2020 and beyond – A Blueprint for an integrated European energy network

  Need to further develop energy infrastructures in order to meet the EU 20-20-20 targets

  Increased likelihood that infrastructure development may impact the Natura 2000 network

5

EU policy framework and legislation on nature and biodiversity

  EU’s commitment to halting biodiversity loss   EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and Nature Directives

  Habitats and Birds Directives   Cornerstones of the EU’s biodiversity policy   Aim to protect and ensure the survival of Europe’s most endangered

and vulnerable species and habitat types   Create the Natura 2000 network   Allow developments under conditions, e.g. Appropriate Assessment

  SEA and EIA Directives

  Voluntary agreements

  Relevant international nature and biodiversity Conventions and Agreements

COVERAGE OF NATURA 2000 IN THE MARINE REGIONS AND SUBREGIONS

The marine Natura 2000 network - % of national seas covered

8

Potential impacts from transmission facilities

Classification of the impacts

  Natural environments   Terrestrial environments, including watercourse-crossing

  Marine environments

  Lifecycle of the facilities   Construction and decommissioning

  Operation

  Accidents

  From general impacts to impacts specific to:   An energy infrastructure: electricity (powerlines ), gas or oil (pipelines)

  A construction option: buried, above-ground, overhead facilities, or watercourse-crossing

9

Potential impacts from transmission facilities

Terrestrial facilities

  a Construction and decommissioning

Operation Accidents

All facilities   Habitat loss or

degradation

  Fragmentation

  Fauna and flora harm or mortality

  Fauna disturbance

  Pollution

Buried facilities   Fauna and flora harm or

mortality (e.g. soil fauna, fauna trapped in the trench)

Watercourse-crossing pipelines

  Habitat loss or degradation

All facilities   Fragmentation (e.g. mammals , birds, insects)

  Fauna disturbance due to noise (e.g. birds)

  Pollution due to corrosion

Overhead powerlines   Electrocution and collision (birds)

  Electro-magnetic fields (e.g. birds)

Buried powerlines   Heat emission to the soil and electromagnetic fields

Gas and oil facilities   Pollution due to pipeline rupture or leakage of pipelines or associated components

Electricity facilities   Pollution by insulation oil due to fluid-filled cables and substations

  Pollution due to substations maintenance

All facilities   Fire risk

10

Potential impacts from transmission facilities

Marine facilities

Construction and decommissioning

Operation Accidents

All facilities   Fauna disturbance

  Contamination related to seabed disturbance

Buried facilities   Habitat loss or

degradation

  Fauna and flora harm or mortality

All facilities   Pollution due to deterioration

  Fragmentation

Powerlines   Electro-magnetic fields

  Noise

Buried cables   Heat emission into the seabed

Gas facilities   Pollution due to pipeline rupture or leakage

Electricity facilities   Pollution due to leakage or rupture of fluid-filled cables

11

Potential impacts from transmission facilities

Main impacts on birds

  Birds are killed or severely wounded by electrocution on power poles or collision with overhead power lines

  Impacts are permanent and for some species concern large numbers

  Birds with broad wing span and heavy, fast flying species with relatively short wings are more vulnerable

  Raptors and stork species often use poles for resting and face risks for electrocution

  Positive impacts are also acknowledged for certain species

Mitigation measures

12

Strategic planning and Natura 2000

  Spatial planning   Strategic tool to establish sustainable development policies

(MS competence)

  Maritime Spatial Planning   Under elaboration for the Integrated Maritime Policy in the EU

  Assessment of plans and programmes and the Habitats Directive   Appropriate Assessment of the effects of a plan or programme, link to

other assessments

  Setting priorities   In particular for birds, by targeting birds species and their preferred

sites and habitats, for prevention and compensation measures

13

Step by step guidance for an appropriate assessment

  Article 6 procedure of the Habitats Directive   When is this article applicable?

  A step by step assessment procedure   Several stages to determine effects on the integrity of the site

  Stage 1: Screening   Gathering information, likely significant effects, cumulative

effects

  Stage 2: Appropriate Assessment   Scope and focus   Assessing the impacts

14

Step by step guidance for an appropriate assessment

  Stage 2: Appropriate Assessment   Cumulative effects   Mitigation measures   Adverse effects on the integrity   Conclusions of the A.A.

  Stage 3: Derogation procedure - Art. 6(4)   Absence of alternative solutions   Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest   Compensatory measures   Notification to the Commission

Thank you for your attention!

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/marine/index_en.htm