We are implementing an innovative initiative in our parks, which helps us in our daily activities while protecting biodiversity
During the daily operation of our solar parks, we encounter various challenges, which we are called upon to address in energy-efficient, environmentally friendly ways. In this context, we sought solutions to a frequent phenomenon: the outages and damage caused to the wiring of our solar installations, by rodent populations.
Our goal was to apply alternative methods, avoiding the use of chemicals or other substances, which would damage the subsoil and the aquifer. Thus, we identified the organization "Tyto", which started from the University of Thessaly and aims to help protect and reproduce the homonymous owl.
Tyto alba is a nocturnal predator that feeds almost exclusively on mice, throughout its geographical range. In order to limit rodents that damage park equipment, and to help the population of owls, we are implementing in collaboration with the organization an innovative program, placing artificial nests in our solar plants that will be inhabited by Tyto.
A pioneering action
To implement the initiative, we initially selected parks in areas and altitudes where the population of Tyto thrives the most. Nests have already been placed in 12 of our parks in Western Macedonia (Florina), Xanthi (Pezouliotika, Polysitos), Thessaly (Mark, Myrini, Gefyri I & II, Larisa) and Peloponnese (Kavasila, Stroussi, Kourtesi, Limnochori).
This is a pioneering action, as we were the first renewable energy company in Greece to proceed with this initiative. We are monitoring the progress of the project and collecting data on its results so far, in order to identify and record potential obstacles, ensure the usage of the nests and enhance the reproduction of Tyto.
Multiple benefits for the environment
The benefits of this action are multifaceted: they lead to savings in maintenance and cable replacement costs, but also to increased energy production, since we avoid cable damage and possible interruptions in inverter operation. At the same time, we protect the ecosystem and biodiversity in park areas, as we do not use harmful chemicals to manage rodents, while actively helping to increase the population of an endangered species.
Besides, this is not our first initiative to protect biodiversity, as for several years, we have set up feeders to protect birds of prey near the parks of Kouloukonas and Agios Kyrillos, in Crete.
We demonstrate every day our commitment to a sustainability model based on initiatives and targeted actions with a significant impact on people's daily lives and especially on the future of young people. Our Creating Shared Value - CSV initiatives are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with this program being part of SDG 15 - Life on Land and SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.
