https://www.mdu.se/

This degree project investigates how power grid infrastructure impact biodiversity through a case study on Mälarenergi Elnät. The purpose was to assess the impacts of the company’s overhead power lines on the local biodiversity in Västmanland, Sweden, and propose mitigation strategies that were cost-effective and would provide high effect in a short time period. The strategies should be feasible to implement during 2025 and 2026 to support their sustainability initiative ‘the journey towards zero. The project combined a literature review and a reference study to collect knowledge on current mitigation measures in other Swedish power companies, and a case study with a GIS based spatial analysis and risk analysis over the company’s eight operational zones. The data was collected through interviews, document reviews, a field observation and data records of red listed species from SLU Artportalen.

The analysis was conducted with the software QGIS to identify hotspot areas where the chosen red listed species, including butterflies, bees and bumblebees, Eagle owl, Ortolanbunting, and Greenfinch intersected with the overhead power lines and protected areas. Several biodiversity hotspots were identified, especially in proximity to water bodies, forest edges, and open- and semi open fields. The hotspots were located within or near protected areas such as Habitats directive, Birds directive, and nationally designated areas.

This project found that the overhead power lines can impact biodiversity in both positive and negative ways. The negative impacts included fragmentation of land, loss of habitat and risk of bird collision and electrocution. The positive impacts included the power line corridors ability to provide sheltered habitats for especially pollinators and enhancing populations by connecting and expanding their habitual areas as a green corridor.

To promote biodiversity and reduce negative impacts, the mitigation hierarchy was applied to the proposed strategies through the categories avoid – minimise – restore – compensate. A risk matrix was utilised to assess the strategies in terms of cost, feasibility and ecological effect. The chosen strategies included tailored vegetation management in the power line corridors and substations, installation of bee- and insect hotels and bird nests to promote population growth, and removing invasive species and creating meadow fields by planting native species to improve and expand habitats for pollinators.

This degree project concluded that there are cost-effective and feasible strategies that the company can implement in their existing operations to promote biodiversity and contribute to international and national biodiversity targets such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, ‘A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life’, and the Nature Restoration Regulation. Mälarenergi Elnät has the opportunity to preserve and restore local biodiversity and contribute to a diverse and sustainable future.