ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CLIMATE ACTIONSCharacteristics of monitoring conducted as exemplified by a line

GRI 3-3

Characteristics of monitoring conducted as exemplified by a line

In connection with the construction of the 400 kV Ostrołęka-Olsztyn Mątki power line, the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Olsztyn imposed an obligation on the investor to carry out a five-year post-investment monitoring of the impact of the line on avifauna covering a section of no less than 10 km. Overall, the monitoring in question lasted from December 2018 to November 2023, and sections of the line running through various habitats, with a total length of about 58 kilometres, were covered by the study.

In 2023, the contractor conducted post-implementation monitoring involving bird mortality surveys in the designated nine sections, where 33 inspections were performed between January and November 2023. The inspections consisted of searching a 200-metre-wide strip (100 metres either side of the centreline of the line) running along the line for identification of dead individuals, injured individuals or clusters of feathers. A total of 523 bird remains were found in 2023 in the surveyed sections. Most dead birds were found during spring and autumn migration. The results obtained were compared with those obtained in studies conducted for sections where diverters were not installed. Similar results were obtained, confirming the effectiveness of the diverters used, bearing in mind that they were installed on sections of the line passing through bird migration routes, where the risk of collisions at those locations was much higher than for reference sections without diverters.

As part of compensation measures in connection with the construction of the 400 kV Ostrołęka-Stanisławów line, in order to minimise losses in the form of lost breeding sites of hollow-nesting birds and bats, various types of nest boxes for birds were installed totalling 521 pieces as well 154 boxes for bats. Both types of boxes were subjected to annual cleaning and underwent necessary repairs and maintenance.

In connection with the construction of the 400 kV Baczyna-Plewiska line in 2023, the cleaning of 65 bird boxes and bat boxes continued in order to keep the boxes populated during subsequent bird and bat breeding periods.

Responsibility towards the natural environment at the operational stage

Sites of the smooth snake have been discovered in areas adjacent to the 400/220/110 kV Kozienice substation and the Kozienice Power Plant. Two years’ observations showed that smooth snakes occurring in the area form a reproductive population existing here for many years. In order to preserve the local population of this snake species, PSE signed a four-party agreement on the protection of the smooth snake – a rare, protected species of snake in the family Colubridae. The parties to the agreement are: Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A., Enea Wytwarzanie sp. z o.o., Kozienice Forest District Authority and the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Warsaw.

As a result, all activities carried out within the so-called sensitive sites, related to tree clearing in the right-of-way of the line, are carried out manually, without the use of heavy equipment, leaving vegetation at least 20cm high. The cooperative model developed for providing information and dealing with emergencies makes it possible to adequately maintain the smooth snake’s habitat and protect its population and sets an example that human activity can have a good impact on the environment.

GRI 304-2

Impact of activities, products and services on biodiversity

Item	Activities undertaken by the organisation with a significant impact on biodiversity	Impact types	Species exposed to the impact of the organisation	Area exposed to the impact of the organisation	How long has the organisation been exerting this impact?	Is the impact reversible (yes/no)	Data source (appendices)

1	Construction of the Jasiniec-Grudziądz power line	Liquidation of habitats under the investment project	The bird species include common redstart, pied flycatcher, blue tit, nuthatch, black redstart.	Operational right-of way area along the power line	By clearing trees in the right-of-way of the line, the company has a continuous impact.	No	Environmental decision issued by GDEP, ref. No. DOOŚ-oaI.4202.7.2017.ADK.AB.4) of 26 November 2018
2	Installation of markers, bird diverter spirals (refers to the 400 kV Kozienice-Miłosna line)	Birds	Hawk, sparrowhawk, buzzard, hobby, kestrel, marsh harrier, oystercatcher, fisher, redshank, little ringed plover, little ringed plover, screech owl, lapwing, snipe, sandpiper, tern, gull, mute swan, greylag goose, white-fronted goose, bean goose, partridge goose, white-fronted goose, mallard, marmot, garganey, gannet, goldeneye, tufted duck, pochard, crane, sparrow; thrush, starling, tit, linnet, chaffinch.	Dolina Mieni [Mienia Valey] (Warsaw Protected Landscape Area) in the section between the towers: 7_WIA-12_WIA; Dolina Świdra [Świder Valley] with the nearby waster sorting plant in the section between the towers: 27_WIA-32_WIA; Natura 2000 area Bagno Całowane [Całowane Marsh] in the section between the towers: 22_CEL-3_KAR; Natura 2000 area Bagno Całowane in the section between the towers: 3_KAR-24_SOB: Natura 2000 area Dolina Środkowej Wisły [Middle Vistula Valley] in the section between the towers 13_WIL-3_MAG; Natura 2000 area Dolina Policy [Pilica Valley] in the section between the towers 3_MAG-15_MAG; Radomka valley and the neighbouring fragment of the Vistula valley in the section between the towers 3_KOZ–39_MAG.	since 2022	Yes	Environmental decision, ref. No. WOOŚ - II.420.2019.PKP.33 of 25 January 2021
3	Destruction of protected lichen individuals (refers to the 400 kV Kozienice-Miłosna line)	Indirect	Widely distributed protected or red-listed species (goldfinch, piping kestrel, bright goldfinch).	A small part of the habitat of the local population, removed after the derogation decision.	Short-term impact related to necessary tree clearing.	Yes, after the operation of the line is discontinued, suitable habitats for the species in question may form there.	Derogation decision
4	Destruction of bird nests (refers to the 400 kV Kozienice-Miłosna line)	Indirect	Widely distributed protected species (raven, grey crow, kestrel, hobby).	A small part of the habitat of the local population, removed after the derogation decision.	Short-term impact related to necessary dismantling of towers on which birds were nesting. The activities were carried out under the supervision of an ornithologist, outside the breeding season, without exposing the birds to breeding losses.	Yes, during the operation of the line, birds can populate the newly erected towers.	Derogation decision
5	Restoration of biodiversity in disturbed areas in connection with the implementation of the project, which includes maintenance are of suspended nest boxes for birds and maintenance of bat boxes totalling 65 pcs. Refers to 400 kV Żarnowiec-Gdańsk Błonia entry to the Gdańsk Przyjaźń substation.	Restoration of avifauna and chiropterofauna biodiversity following the clearing of trees in earlier years.	Bird and bat species characteristic of habitat 9110 acidic beech forest and species characteristic of habitat 9130 fertile beech forest.	Habitat 9110 and habitat 9130 removed for the establishment of a power line right-of-way.	One-time clearing of trees and shrubs only as part of an ongoing project.	Yes	Environmental decision issued by the General Director for Environmental Protection of 26 November 2020, ref. No. DOOŚ-WDŚ/ZIL.420.89.2019.EO/EU/KM.9
6	Monitoring of replacement plantings including annual inspection of plantings for a period of 5 years from the planting date. Replacement of dead tree seedlings by making new plantings. Refers to the construction of the 400 kV Ełk Bis - Polish Border line.	Loss of nesting habitats through conversion due to tree and shrub clearing.	Chiropterofauna, avifauna.	Tree clearing locations along the route of the Elk - Polish border line under construction.	From 2015	Yes (in the case of line dismantling)	Decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection in Warsaw, ref. No. DOOŚ-OAI.4202.3.2013.AŁ.7
7	In the line sections where diverters were installed (9 sections), avifauna monitoring was carried out as part of the five-year monitoring of birds for mortality due to collisions with the line and to confirm the effectiveness of the solutions used to reduce this impact. Refers to the 400 kV Ostrołęka - Olsztyn Mątki line.	Countering bird mortality by monitoring it and evaluating the effectiveness of measures applied to minimise mortality risks.	Birds of passage	Inline sections: Section I - 8 spans (1LE-8LE) (845-338) Section II 82 spans (31LE-17CZ) (315-235) Section III 6 spans (28WI-34WI) (196-190) Section IV 9 spans (15SZ-24SZ) (163-172) Section V 10 spans (21DZ-31DZ) (121-111) Section VI 5 spans (35DZ-40DZ) (107-102) Section VII 1 span (200L-1DY) (25-24) Section VIII 1 span (3DY-210L) (22-21) Section IXP 24 spans (4WI-28WI) (220-196).	Since 2018	Yes, in the case of line dismantling	Decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection in Warsaw of 27 October 2016 (ref. No. DOOŚ OAII.4202.2.2015.aj.16 Final report on the monitoring of bird mortality on the site of the project involving the construction of the double circuit 400 kV Ostrołęka - Olsztyn Mątki line, December 2018 - November 2023; Ostrołęka, January 2024.
8	Installation of large spiral divertors in bright colours spaced at no more than 40 m intervals and in an alternating pattern on one and the other conductor wire, in order to increase the overall visibility of the conductors, obtaining a view from the line side at 20 m intervals. Refers to the 400 kV Ostrołęka-Stanisławów line.	Addressing bird mortality by increasing the visibility of potentially colliding elements.	Avifauna (birds)	In the following sections: km 0+000 - 1+952, km 6+850 - 8+367, km 18+027 - 18+866, km 31+937 -33+261, km 35+000 - 61+600 of the WB option and in the sections: km 0+000 - 5+000, km 9+779 - 10+798, km 16+000 - 17+500, km 18+906 - 20+670 of the W2 option	Until the end of the service life of the 400 kV line	Yes	Environmental decision issued by the General Director for Environmental Protection of 30 August 2021, ref. No. WOOŚ-II.420.117.2020.JK.27, amended by Decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection of 8 May 2023, ref. No. DOOŚ-WDŚZIL.420.34.2021.KM.SO
9	Installation of markers (swinging firefly diverters) characterised by higher visibility in low-light conditions. These diverters were suspended at 10 metre intervals, alternating with the diverters suspended on the adjacent conductor to achieve a visual, apparent effect of the diverters being suspended at 5 metre intervals. Refers to the 400 kV Ostrołęka-Stanisławów line.	Addressing bird mortality by increasing the visibility of potentially colliding elements.	Awifauna	In the sections: km 35+000 - 61+600 called WB (from Wyszków to Ostrołęka), km 0+000 - 5+000 and km 16+000 -17+500 for the section called W2 (from Wyszków to Stanisławów)	During the service life of the 400 kV line	Yes	Environmental decision issued by the General Director for Environmental Protection of 30 August 2021, ref. No. WOOŚ-II.420.117.2020.JK.27, amended by Decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection of 8 May 2023, ref. No. DOOŚ-WDŚZIL.420.34.2021.KM.SO
10	In order to minimise losses in the form of lost breeding sites for hollow-nesting birds, a total of 521 nesting boxes for ornithofauna were installed prior to tree clearing. The bird boxes were hung under the supervision of an expert ornithologist at the designated locations. All bird nesting boxes installed will undergo annual, one-time cleaning, necessary repairs and maintenance for a period of 10 years from the date of their installation. Refers to the 400 kV Ostrołęka-Stanisławów line.	Compensation of lost habitat for hollow-nesting birds	Great tit (Parus major), Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), marsh tit (Poecile palustris), willow tit (Poecile montanus), coal tit (Perioparus ater), common redstart (Phoenicarius phoenicarius), European pied flycatcher (Ficedula Hypoleuca), Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta Europea), starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops)	In the Forest Districts: Minsk, Drewnica, Łochów and Wyszków.	Since 2023	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection of 30 August 2021, ref. No. WOOŚ-II.420.117.2020.JK.27, amended by Environmental Decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection of 8 May 2023, ref. No. DOOŚ-WDŚZIL.420.34.2021.KM.SO, installation certificate for the boxes.
11	Due to the loss of bat (chiropterofauna) habitat caused by tree clearing, 154 Stratmann breeding boxes were hung at locations agreed with the State Forests and under the supervision of a chiropterologist. All the boxes were installed before the clearing of trees. They will undergo annual, one-time cleaning, necessary repairs and maintenance for a period of 10 years from the date of their installation. Refers to the 400 kV Ostrołęka-Stanisławów line.	Compensation of lost habitat for bats	Chiropterofauna (bats)	In the Forest Districts: Mińsk, Drewnica, Łochów and Wyszków as per the Appendix – installation certificate for the boxes.	Since 2023	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection of 30 August 2021, ref. No. WOOŚ-II.420.117.2020.JK.27, amended by Decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection of 8 May 2023, ref. No. DOOŚ-WDŚZIL.420.34.2021.KM.SO, installation certificate for the boxes.
12	Clearing of trees and shrubs outside the bird breeding season, i.e. from 1 March to 31 August Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Addressing bird mortality by conducting work outside the bird breeding season.	Awifauna	Line sections in areas affected by the clearing of trees and shrubs.	Construction stage - tree clearing	No	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ
13	Removal of hollow trees outside the breeding season during the months of September-October. Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Addressing bird mortality by conducting work outside the bird breeding season.	Awifauna	Line sections in areas affected by the clearing of trees and shrubs.	One-time clearing of trees and shrubs only as part of an ongoing project.	No	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ
14	Conducting construction works between 31 August and 15 March in the section where an active osprey nest is located. Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Addressing bird mortality by conducting work outside the bird breeding season.	Awifauna	In the section between towers Ps11-Ps21	Construction stage	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ
15	Marking and fencing in a visible way, at the project implementation stage, inventoried natural habitats and sites of protected species of plants and fungi, occurring in the vicinity of the site. Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Preventing the destruction of valuable and protected natural habitats by marking and fencing them off for the duration of the works.	Vegetation – habitats	Sections of the line within sites where valuable protected habitats have been inventoried.	Construction stage	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ
16	Installing, in an alternating layout, diverter spirals of the “large” type in a colour visible to birds, on ground wires. Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Addressing bird mortality by increasing the visibility of elements posing a potential threat to birds.	Awifauna	In the sections between the towers: Lu1-Bo10, Bo15-De10, Bl12-Bl28, Mz10-Ps24, Lw19-Du3, Bu10-Do3	During the service life of the 400 kV line	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ
17	Restoration of lost shrubs within rows constituting migration routes of bats between towers, by planting native shrub species, growing to a height of about 3 m. Species - Hawthorn (Crataegus). Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Restoration of bat migration routes	Chiropterofauna (bats)	Between the towers: Bl28-Bl29, Ku10-Ku11, Ku8-Ku9, Bu23-Bu24	During the service life of the 400 kV line	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ
18	Installation of artificial nesting platforms for large birds of prey, on top of 400 kV line towers. Refers to the 400 kV Baczyna - Plewiska line.	Compensation of lost habitats and breeding sites for birds.	Ornithofauna (birds)	Towers: De1, De24 and Ps1	During the service life of the 400 kV line	Yes	Environmental Decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski of 29 July 2020, ref. No. WZŚ.420.20.2020.AJ

GRI 304-3

Habitats protected or restored

Item	Type of restored or actively protected area (form of protection, type of habitat, etc.)	Information on protected or restored habitats		Were the restoration / protection actions approved by an external organisation / experts (Yes / No)	What was the status of the area at the end of the reported period?	Data source

		surface area [ha]	location
1	9110 acidic beech forest 9130 fertile beech forest Re. Gdańsk Przyjaźń 400/110 kV substation including the entry of one circuit of Gdańsk Błonia-Żarnowiec 400 kV line	10.7	Forest Districts: Kolbudy (3ha), Bytów (2.17ha), Dretyń (1.05ha), Lipusz (4.46ha), Warcino (1ha)	Yes	Plantings survived to the end of the reported period	Environmental decision of 26 November 2020, ref. No. DOOŚ-WDŚ/ZIL. 420.89.2019.EO/EU/KM9
2	Natura 2000 code 6410 - Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caerulae) Dusky large blue (Phengaris nausithous) and Scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius) and transfer of 3 species under legal protection: broad-leaved marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis L.), Turkish Marsh Gladiolus (Gladiolus imbricatus L.) and Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica L.) Re. Byczyna substation	3.2	Byczyna substation Jaworzno municipality	Yes	No change (a final summary of the effectiveness of the work in process will be provided after 2025)	1. Environmental decision of 10 May 2016, ref. No. OŚ-ŚR.6220.46.2015; 2. Decision authorising the destruction of habitat and deliberate transfer of specimens of 12 May 2015, WPN.6400.33.2014.MS.5; 3. Decision authorising the destruction of habitat of 15 May 2015, WPN.6401.463.2014.MS.4; 4. Report on the execution of conservation tasks (mowing) in 2023; 5. Report on the monitoring of the status of the populations of Dusky large blue (Phengaris nausithous) and Scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius) in 2023.

GRI EU13

Biodiversity of natural compensation compared to the biodiversity of affected areas

Item	Please identify the biodiversity of compensatory habitats in terms of:			Please compare the biodiversity of the primary habitat prior to the company’s activities with the biodiversity of the compensatory habitat (information collected under indicator 304-2 can be used)	Please explain the reason for the differences between primary and compensatory habitats and describe what measures were implemented to improve the biodiversity of the compensatory habitat	Please indicate the period of biodiversity monitoring and reporting at offset sites	Data source

	Habitat area (km²)	Main protected species	Habitat description (e.g. wetlands, grasslands, forests, etc.)
1	10.7 ha	9110 - acidic beech forest (Luzulo-Fagion) 9130 - fertile beech forests (Dentario glandulosae - Fagenion) Re. Gdańsk Przyjaźń 400/110 kV substation entry including the entry of one circuit of Gdańsk Błonia-Żarnowiec line	Beech forests	Replacement plantings were made in places as close as possible to the area of clearing included the restoration of pre-existing habitats with characteristic species present, at a ratio of 1:1 to the areas destroyed. Maintenance of the restored habitats is planned for the next 5 years.	No monitoring activities were carried out.	No such activities were carried out in 2023.	Environmental decision issued by the General Director for Environmental Protection of 26 November 2020, DOOŚ-WDŚ/ZIL.420.89.2019.EO/EU/KM.9.

Osprey protection

PSE, together with the State Forests, continued measures to protect the osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Through the cooperation, 13 special platforms were installed on which birds can build their nests. The project contributes to increasing the breeding area of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus), which should have a direct impact on increasing the population of this species.

The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is one of the rarest birds of prey in Poland and is under strict protection. The installation of osprey platforms on electricity towers is a good and proven practice complementary to tree-mounted platforms. It is also used in Germany, where about one third of the osprey population nest on high-voltage towers. With nests protected this way, birds are more likely to settle in.

The construction of osprey nesting platforms is a continuation of activities initiated by PSE in 2014. More platforms were provided in 2021-2022.

In 2021, they were installed on the Krajnik-Glinki, Morzyczyn-Compartment and Krajnik-Vierraden EHV lines. In 2022, four osprey platforms were installed in the course of construction of the Baczyna-Krajnik line. Since the start of the project, 13 platforms have been successfully installed on electricity towers.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CLIMATE ACTIONSCharacteristics of monitoring conducted as exemplified by a line

Characteristics of monitoring conducted as exemplified by a line

Responsibility towards the natural environment at the operational stage

Osprey protection

Protection of biodiversity

Efektywność energetyczna

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