Biodiversity
We know that biodiversity is important. By using Biodiversity Action Plans, through local projects and educating staff we can minimise our impact on the environment and improve the biodiversity at our operational sites.
E.ON UK Biodiveristy Statement (PDF, 4.61MB)
Biodiversity is important because life on earth, including human life, is dependent on the interactions between all living organisms.
These living organisms make up ecosystems. Ecosystems do essential tasks such as generating and maintaining soils, cleaning air and water and managing waste.
E.ON sites
Many of our power station sites are rich in biodiversity because they are large areas of undisturbed land with a variety of habitats. They are on rivers or estuaries and often have agricultural land away from towns and villages. Over the years, stations have not only worked to minimise their impacts on the environment, but have been active in their management, restoration and enhancement. This has resulted in an increase in wildlife. All our power station sites encourage wildlife in many ways, to the extent that it now forms part of everyday life on the stations and is incorporated into sites' environmental management systems.
Coal:
Gas:
- Connah’s Quay
- Cottam Development Centre
- Enfield
- Killingholme
- Taylor's Lane
Oil:
Kingsnorth has a formal Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in place. Part of this involves controlling water levels in the river to reduce the stickleback population which is affecting the colony of great crested newts.
There is a 100-acre nature reserve on the site which provides an abundance of habitats for wildlife and birds with 200 species of birds. Around 20 bird and bat boxes have been installed and there is active monitoring of up to 1,500 birds each year by ringers, in addition to the creation of ponds around our nature study centre.
During 2002 work on the sea wall on the Oakham Island nature reserve was completed which should prevent the interior being inundated by spring tides. As well as normal coppicing and pollarding in the nature reserve, an area has been selectively thinned to create a stand of silver birch woodland. This will allow light to penetrate and encourage growth of ground plant communities. Since doing this, a species of orchid, the Broad Leaved Helleborine has now been found here.
Ironbridge is surrounded by wooded hillsides, meadows and river habitats. The station works with local groups, such as the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Shropshire Bat Group, to incorporate advice and suggestions into station management plans. The site has 100 acres of restored habitat called Devils Dingle. Water voles, European otters and great crested newts can be found on site.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station
Ratcliffe is close to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and has an Environmental Management System and Biodiversity Action Plan in development to manage the impacts on biodiversity that electricity generation has. The site covers 280 hectares (Ha) in total: 89 Ha is electricity generation, 120 Ha is agricultural and 71 Ha incorporates landscaped areas laid down for conservation and screening. There are no designated protected areas on the Ratcliffe site but air quality monitoring suggests that surrounding habitats are not being adversely affected by the presence of the power station.
The ash landfill site at Ratcliffe continues to attract increasing numbers of sand martins each year, with a colony of more than 80 breeding pairs flying nearly 2,000 miles from south of the Sahara in Africa.
71 Ha out of the total 280 Ha of the station's land incorporates landscaped areas laid down for conservation and screening. About 4 Ha is designated as 'restored' (the grassed over areas of the Winking Hill landfill site).
There have been recent sightings of the Hoopoe bird, normally found on the south coast of England on their migratory route from Africa to Europe in the spring. Only a handful have been seen in Nottinghamshire. A peregrine falcon has nested on the roof of the boiler house at Ratcliffe, a convenient home as it is close to sources of food such as pigeons.
Connah's Quay power station is on the Dee Estuary, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area under the EC Conservation of Wild Birds Directive. This area attracts a large number of wintering and migrating birds of both national and international interest, including dunlin, lapwing, oystercatcher and black-tailed godwit. We work with Deeside Naturalists Society, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and The Countryside Council for Wales.
The pipeline that carries the gas from Liverpool Bay has been buried and routed specifically not to disturb wildlife and heritage sites. To avoid environmental disturbance, water used for cooling is taken from and returned to the River Dee for three hours around high tide. The temperature and salinity of the discharged water are constantly monitored and controlled so there is no adverse effect on the river and wildlife.
Many rare birds and other wildlife are regular visitors to the estuary. We have built an 11 hectare reserve on the western boundary, including two grass marshlands and an artificial lagoon which provide ideal nesting sites for wading birds. 17 hectares of bunded pools and the management of the salt marshes ensure and promote the survival and growth of plants and wildlife.
Enfield is home to a large range of birds including kestrels, peregrine falcons and skylarks. The black redstart has been spotted here and water fowl reside on the River Lee.
Killingholme provides habitats for wildlife and birds that use the River Humber. More than 40,000 plants, shrubs and trees have been planted to landscape the site and help to attract local wildlife.
Grain holds up to six pairs of nesting black redstarts which is about 10% of the British population. Barn owls and peregrine falcons can also be found on site, along with the owls prey, water voles. Hares are common in the rough grass areas and over 150 Bee orchids have been spotted along with Autumn Lady's Tresses.
