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Bełchatów power plant has been conducting forest monitoring in its impact areas for over a dozen years. In the course of research conducted as part of a project to modernise units it was concluded that the on-going exploitation activities have marginal impact on the biodiversity of terrains surrounding the plant and that the planned installations will further limit the impact on flora and fauna. Researchers working at Turów power plant came to similar conclusions.
Striving to improve the quality of the natural environment, we initiate, support and participate in initiatives intended to retain biodiversity and improve the state of the environment, the quality of which we monitor.
We are also undertaking activities intended to protect birds from electrocution. We build isolated lines and special structures on suspension towers.
PGE Energia Odnawialna conducts monitoring of birds and bats at its wind farms. The aim is to determine the actual impact of turbines on these animals. For this purpose we use special structures on towers and wind turbines that prevent building nests. We also use special marking on the ends of the blades, making it possible for birds to see the potential obstacle. In accordance with environmental protection requirements, fish passes are installed at newly-built and existing facilities so that fish can migrate.
In 2019, the PGE Group tested a bird monitoring system whose task is to coordinate their migration routes with the ener- gy production process in our wind farms. By excluding periodically selected turbines that flying birds are approaching, PGE protects them from collision with windmills without stopping the entire complex, which was necessary until now throughout the entire migration period.
PGE Energia Ciepła and PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwenjonalna have been cooperating with ornithologists from the Association for Wild Animals „Sokół” for years supporting the reintroduction of peregrine falcons in Poland. In the PGE Capital Group: Dolna Odra Power Plant Complex (ZEDO), Elektrociepłownia in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Toruń and Lublin, as well as in the Bełchatów Power Plant, there are 6 peregrine falcon nesting stations. The first 3 chicks hatched in ZEDO in 2004. Since then, 33 young falcons have hatched at the Dolna Odra Power Plant. In 2006 for the first time a female falcon was constantly observed in the chimney in Gdynia. The first nest was installed a year later.
In February 2016, Gdynia falcons received a completely new nest with cameras, thanks to which it is possible to watch live the life of chimney tenants- pere- grine falcons. From 2019, you can also watch the life of falcons from Toruń and Lublin. In the most interesting moments of the life of the falcon family, the on-line preview on the page peregrinus.pl is accessed about 200 thousand times per month. In 2018, a pair of peregrine falcons also nested 75 meters above the ground in the carburizing gallery of one of the 13 working power units at the Bełchatów Power Plant. All the nestlings chicks that the Association „Sokół” looks after are ringed. Birds receive two rings: yellow ornithological and blue observation ones. The yellow color of the ornithological ring means that the falcon has hatched in urban areas, the blue means that the falcon has hatched in the wild.
Only about 30 pairs of peregrine falcons live in Poland. They are under strict species protection.
Kestrels also nest in areas belonging to the PGE Group. These small falcons chose their nests in close proximity to the power generating units of Dolna Odra Power Plant and the reclaimed grounds of the Bełchatów and Turów mine dumps. Kestrels require active protection (they are fully protected).
Every day, PGE Dystrybucja cares for white storks. For years, it has been mounting platforms for them on the poles of low voltage lines that raise nests above power lines. Such metal construction means safety for storks and reduction of network failure, and thus reduction of power supply interruptions. The design perfectly separates birds from the power grid and protects against electric shock. To date, over 25,000 platforms ensuring safe nesting of birds on power po- les during their stay in Poland have been installed. In addition, bird warning balls, as well as special con- structions and equipment are mounted on high and medium voltage lines to prevent birds from colliding with power line cables.
The PGE Group has been implementing the „Forests full of energy” program since 2000. For 19 years, the PGE employees with families, foresters, scouts, students of primary and secondary schools as well as residents of the areas where PGE operates planted almost 600,000 trees, mainly pines, spruces and oaks.
