The energy company Endesa, via its Networks subsidiary e-distribución, has finished conditioning the wooded areas near power lines that run through the province of Huelva. These operations, covering 5,688 kilometers of cabling, aim not only to ensure a reliable and high-quality electricity supply but also to contribute to the preservation of the natural environment.
Recognizing that the electricity distribution network is part of the territory and coexists with the landscapes it traverses, and given that 60% of its lines are aerial and pass through wooded areas, Endesa integrates environmental and biodiversity protection criteria into its infrastructure management. The goal is for the electrical grid to blend into its surroundings and for its maintenance to aid in its conservation.
A key task involves the selective felling and pruning of trees, undergrowth, and shrubs near the lines. These actions are carried out while respecting the safety distances stipulated by the Administration between vegetation and the electrical infrastructure. This facilitates the coexistence of the infrastructure with forests and natural spaces, and plays a significant role in preventing forest fires by creating corridors under the aerial lines that hinder their spread and reinforce the protection of the forest environment.
These tasks are executed in close coordination with the Junta de Andalucía. They jointly plan the schedules for preventive work and establish protocols for fire response, including line disconnections if required by extinguishing teams, to ensure the safety of personnel on the ground.
Over the past year, Endesa has invested more than one million euros in the province for these activities. The work has been carried out on 4,703 kilometers of medium and low-voltage lines, and 985 kilometers of high-voltage lines. The total length of the lines intervened is equivalent to the distance between Huelva and Sudan, highlighting the scale of these operations.
The entire process has followed current national regulations, taking into account the growth cycles of different plant species and collaborating with regional and local administrations, which identify the period between October and May as the most suitable for pruning.
Environmental commitment is a core value for Endesa. Therefore, each year, it promotes these forest cleaning campaigns in Andalusia, an autonomous community through which 132,285 kilometers of power lines run.
