Project: Statkraft Talayuela 2
Location: Talayuela, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain
Cost: 260,000 EUR
Dates: Operational since 2023
Objectives: Landscape integration, harmonising the solar plant with the surrounding landscape. Preserving all the holm oak (Quercus ilex) species within the project boundary and implemented measures to preserve biodiversity. Maintaining an open dialogue with the local community on biodiversity.
Measures undertaken:
During Design, Consenting and Permitting
Structure piling when installing the panels to avoid using concrete. Avoiding herbicide use for vegetation control, to avoid damaging the aquatic environment with toxic run-off. Restoration of affected land and habitats, including spreading topsoil and improving pastures with leguminous and grass seeds in areas disturbed during canalisation and roadmaking. All trenches in the construction phase were provided with escape routes to prevent the trapping of wildlife. Installed bird collision avoidance measures on enclosures and in transmission line, including reflective plates on fencing, anti-collision devices such as luminous rotating blades with ultraviolet light on the evacuation power line, and bird-saving spirals installed every 10m on all conductors and ground cable. Installed nest boxes for owls (Tyto) and kestrel (Falco) on 5-meter-high wooden supports with a foundation of 1 meter for greater stabilisation. Installed refugia for reptiles and arthropods. Planting a perimeter of natural vegetation for screening. Creation of a 19ha fenced forest reserve, surrounded by temporary fencing to exclude herbivores, and promote tree and shrub growth. Pond construction for the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). Fenced, 2,000 square meters and <1m deep, and with trunks and ramps for resting and access. Creation of a 5,000 m2 pond with a 1.5m slope preparation for European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster). The first 5cm of the slope will be removed each year in late March, to prevent hardening and to refresh the slope wall. Installation of bat (Chiroptera) shelters with anti-climbing systems to deter predators.
Operation
Monitoring of bird mortality on the line and trackers throughout the life of the plant.
Searches will be conducted along a predetermined route with a specialised canine
unit biweekly in winter and bimonthly for the rest of the year.
Decommissioning
Complete restoration of the land to its original state, including reestablishment of the original runoff, maintaining the original land topography, and returning the land to its pre-project vocation. Dismantling and the removal of all debris and waste will be overseen by an authorised manager. These measures will be carried out in a period of less than 9 months from the end of the plant activity. A restoration plan must be submitted one year before the end of the activity, detailing the different actions that will allow the land to be left in its original state. This plan must be approved prior to its execution by the environmental body, which will carry out the modifications it deems necessary.
Results: Conserved all existing ecosystems and preserved 81 existing holm oak (Quercus ilex) trees within the project area.
Success factors:
- Stakeholder Consultation
- Scientific Justification
- Site specific solutions
- In-house technical expertise and thorough design
- Obtaining public acceptance
- Well established cooperation between developers and administrations
- Collecting and using high-quality data
- Knowledge sharing / lessons learned
Images copyright: Statkraft