[2018] TVB-PNRA-RTE - For an energy, ecological and safe infrastructure in the Ardennes
- TVB-PNRA-RTE - For an energy, ecological and safe infrastructure in the Ardennes
As a user of natural areas, RTE is directly concerned by biodiversity protection issues. In fact, nearly 15,000 km of line corridors cross protected natural areas, 48% of which are Natura 2000 sites.
In the forest environment, vegetation management under high and very high voltage lines is crucial. Indeed, no tree can approach too close to the cables at the risk of causing a power failure and compromise the stability of the electricity supply. In 2011, RTE became involved in the European LIFE program Elia-RTE, which aims to test new devices and methods of forest trench management, integrating the issues of biodiversity preservation, electrical safety, and the aspirations of the parties. stakeholders. This project, which will end in December 2017, has made it possible to develop a range of technical solutions in ecological engineering but also partnership terms.
With this potential, RTE is pursuing the three-year (2018-2020) approach, within the perimeter of the Regional Natural Park of the Ardennes (PNRA). As previously, the actors of the territory, public and private owners, managers of the forests, loggers and agricultural and associations related to the conservation of nature will co-construct the project. The experimental site selected, the North-West of the Ardennes Department, is an area largely covered by forests and whose electrical mesh is dense, given the proximity of the Chooz nuclear power plant.
Feedback from this project will help to create a useful guide for linear infrastructure managers for other forest areas located throughout France, and not just in protected natural areas. This vegetation rights-of-way guide will incorporate the active participation of local stakeholders in the implementation of a "new way of doing things" while contributing to the National Ministry's 2011-2020 National Biodiversity Strategy. an ecological and solidarity-based transition that sets the ambition of "preserving and restoring, reinforcing and enhancing biodiversity, ensuring its sustainable and equitable use, thus achieving the commitment of all and all sectors of activity".