Management of impacts, risks and opportunities

E4-2 – Concepts related to biodiversity and ecosystems

The development of a transition plan for the promotion of biodiversity and ecosystems will be based on a newly developed biodiversity strategy, which will also be the basis for specific actions to achieve the targets. The strategy will be incorporated into non-financial reporting in good time and within the statutory targets.

E4-3 – Actions and resources related to biodiversity and ecosystems

Promoting biodiversity

Individual actions taken in the 2023/2024 fiscal year relating to biodiversity and the promotion of ecosystems are presented below.

The construction of the pumped-storage power plant in Ebensee is contributing significantly to a sustainable energy future. As an infrastructure project, this of course also has an impact on the habitat of living organisms at the location. In the summer of 2023, a large-scale campaign to collect the impacted animals was organised over a four-month period. Containers were placed along catch fences erected for this purpose to catch the animals. The campaign allowed around 1,300 animals – including over 900 fire salamanders – to be relocated to a new, safe habitat outside the construction site. During the construction work, the fence will temporarily remain in place to protect the animals. In addition, 20 piles of branches were created in sunny areas and 20 small bodies of water in damp areas to create favourable conditions. These areas will be maintained throughout the construction phase until the end of 2027 and should remain species-appropriate habitats beyond that.

Where stork nests are nearby, Netz OÖ GmbH has taken specific action to protect them in cooperation with bird protection organisations. Insulating protective caps on the medium-voltage line insulators are intended to protect animals from entering the circuit when they fly to or from the line.

To promote biodiversity, beehives were set up in the area of the Marchtrenk, Traun-Pucking and Unterach substations as part of a bee project. The project was launched in the second half of the 2023/2024 fiscal year and is intended to provide additional shelter for animals that are important for biodiversity.

In the direct vicinity of Netz OÖ GmbH substations, care is taken to promote biodiversity by sowing lean meadows containing 120 different types of grass and flowers. The meadows are only mowed once a year so that the flowers and insects have as undisturbed a habitat as possible.

Biomonitoring, a scientifically-based control method, is used to track pollutant emissions at the Wels waste incineration plant. The effects of the thermal treatment plant’s operation on the environment are measured continuously at several fixed points in and around the site. Since 1991, biomonitoring has not detected any environmental impact.

Fish bypasses have been built at Energie AG’s run-of-river power plants and pumped-storage power plants in accordance with the Water Framework Directive. Energie AG operates 45 dams, 26 of which are equipped with fish bypasses. At four of the dams, plans have been made to adapt existing fish bypasses to reflect the state of the art, and the necessary licences have been applied for. This means that these fish bypasses will also be suitable for the largest fish species found here, the huchen. Gradual implementation is planned through to 2027.

Energie AG holds more than 20 fishing rights in Upper Austria and Salzburg and not only supports the natural reproduction of the fish stock, but also secures the naturally authentic population density by means of ecological breeding programmes and regular stocking with native fish species.