DTEK Grids helped save over 1,650 birds in the past year

One of the priorities of DTEK Grids operation is protection of biodiversity in the areas of its activity. Since 2013, the company cares about preservation of birds and every year it scales up the ornithological safety program.

“Every single day we work on creating shared values in the areas that we are part of. We strive to reconcile achieving business goals with specific contribution to protection and preservation of environment and biodiversity. It is in line with the DTEK 2030 strategy, based on ESG principles, values and business responsibility for progress in achieving the sustainable development goals of the UN Global Compact. In particular, goal No. 15 – “Preserving Terrestrial Ecosystems”. In 2021, we helped save over 1,650 birds. In total, over 9 years, this figure exceeds 8,000. These results inspire us to continue contributing to biodiversity in Ukraine,” says Elena Potapenko, Chief ecologist at DTEK Grids.

In order to protect birds, DTEK Grids distribution system operators install nesting platforms for storks on power towers. In 2021, a record number was installed – 197 platforms within the company’s environmental educational project #EnergyWings, largest in Ukraine. It has combined actions of business community, young generation of Ukrainians and contemporary art to draw public attention to the problem of biodiversity loss and the environment protection. This project was met by customers of energy companies with heightened interest. Overall, over the past 9 years, electricity distribution companies have installed 443 platforms for storks nesting.

In order to protect birds from collision with power lines and electrocution, DTEK Grids DSOs equip power transmission lines with bird protection devices – reflective diverters and special casings made of electrical resistant material. In 2021, energy workers installed 2,342 such devices in four regions. Over the course of 9 years, a total of 5,600 such protection devices were installed.

In 2021, DTEK Grids, in cooperation with Ukrainian ornithologists, have fabricated and installed 137 artificial nesting spots for the birds of prey (owls and red footed falcons) in Kyiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions. This also concerned preservation of scops owl, listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and Bern convention. There are only 2,000-4,000 pairs of this species left in Ukraine.

Special design not only safeguards rare and endangered birds from death, but also secures the transmission lines from accidents, and company’s customers – from power outages.

In 2022, DTEK Grids will continue its ornithological safety program. Energy workers will install 2,845 special protection devices and at least 110 nesting platforms for storks, and will implement other initiatives related to protection of biodiversity, thus helping to save, at least, 600 more birds.

For reference:

* The Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats entered into force on January 1, 1982 and since then 51 parties have joined to it, including the European Union. Ukraine joined the Convention in 1996. The Berne Convention is the main environmental law in Europe, and serves as a basis for almost all environmental conventions of our continent, environmental legislation of most European countries and environmental directives of the European Union.