ČEPS is well aware of its responsibility towards the environment and focuses on an environmentally-friendly approach to the countryside and responsible ecological behaviour in terms of its everyday corporate dealings. ČEPS has been awarded a “Green Company” certificate in recognition of its waste management policy. Environmental protection considerations are also included in ČEPS’s Donation Programme.
Environmentally-conscious management of chemicals
Special interest is accorded to transformer stations as part of the Company’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and involves the ecological treatment of wastewater containing transformer oil (wastewater can be contaminated by oil as a result of precipitation) using CINIS technology. Other potentially dangerous substances used at the Company’s transformer station installations are carefully monitored.
Sensitive encroachment on the environment
ČEPS’s key priority with regard to the protection of nature and the environment is guarding against the adverse impact of the clearing of protection zones along the routes of overhead power lines. Protection zones are required to eliminate the risk of objects, especially trees, being hit by potential electricity discharges from high voltage power lines.
Ground conditioning within protection zones
The Energy Act defines a protection zone as an area in the immediate vicinity of a power line (the width depending on the voltage level) designed to ensure both the reliable operation of the line and the safety of the general public. The Act stipulates that routine maintenance of protection zones be carried out along with the regular removal of trees when deemed necessary. Binding rules for both ČEPS employees and outside contractors in this regard are clearly defined in the Company’s internal regulations.
Minimisation of the environmental impact of power line construction
In order to eliminate the impact of power line construction on the EMS (Environmental Management System), EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) documentation is prepared which includes a description of the detailed biological research required to obtain building permission for the construction of a power line or transformer station. The EIA report must include an assessment of the current condition of the land affected and the anticipated direct and indirect impacts of such land use on the local flora and fauna including birds.
The transmission network does not pose a risk to birds
The distance between individual potentially hazardous elements of the Company’s transmission lines is enough so as not to pose a risk to birds native to the Czech Republic. Electrical injury usually occurs on other types of power lines (distribution grids) where birds may unwittingly connect live elements of the power lines with their wings or other parts of the body. The length of the suspension insulator strings on high-voltage and extra-high-voltage towers supporting power lines operated by ČEPS is at least 3.5 metres (depending on the design); string length determines the distance between the conductor and the tower. The distance between individual phases is even greater, i.e. more than 5 metres. Bundled conductors are used for extra-high-voltage power lines; conductor bundles usually consist of two or three conductors with a distance between them of 40cm. It is not possible for electrical injury to occur even on bundled conductors since all the conductors are of the same phase (bundled conductors are used for phase reinforcement).
No wild bird native to the Czech Republic has a wingspan wide enough to form a connection between a live and earthed power line element. The largest birds in the country are the white-tailed eagle and the white stork with wingspans of 2.4 metres and 2 metres respectively and the eagle owl and gray goose both with wingspans of 1.7 metres. Consequently, high-voltage or extra-high-voltage power lines pose no threat to the country’s birdlife.
For further information please contact our Communications Department which, together with Roman Lukáš, the corporate ecologist are more than willing to answer any questions you might have.