Environmental issues, including biodiversity, are integrated throughout the engineering and operational process, from the beginning and design phases of the projects to promoting prevention and reduction. For new projects, EDF reduces its site coverage as much as possible and, in case of decommissioning of its facilities, works to restore the natural environment. Similar processes are also carried out at facilities in operation. Their impacts on the environment and biodiversity are the subject of monitoring conducted by public bodies (in France: Ifremer, IRSN, Irstea, AFB/Onema). The results are published and are accessible. In addition, EDF assesses the risks in investment projects. 100% of projects presented to the Commitments Committee are screened for biodiversity issues.

In mainland France, in the Belledonne en Isère mountain range, the Company conducted an experiment on the offsetting proposals with the Initiative Biodiversité Combe-Madame non-profit organisation and the key community players. It is aimed at restoring sub-alpine environments and enabling the return of remarkable fauna and flora species (such as the black grouse). This experiment is part of the action initiated by the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, to test the relevance and feasibility of the offsetting proposals. The project started in 2015; in 2016, the assessment of the initial condition of the site was completed and preliminary work for reopening the environments started; in 2017, actions were also carried out with the Fédération des Alpages de l’Isère, LPO Isère, ONCFS and Irstea to reconcile economic and tourism uses with the biodiversity of the site. In 2018, the site did not apply for approval from the Ministry to propose offsetting units through the offer due to weak local demand. However, actions in favour of biodiversity are continuing with local partners and the results of this trial (one of four in France) will be published in 2020.

In the areas operated by the distribution network operator Enedis, new HV lines were completed 98% underground and 100% underground or unobtrusively for LV. Overall, 48% of all HV and LV networks are underground.

As part of the offsetting measures, EDF carries out actions on Réunion Island for the protection and conservation of the “Papangues” (an endemic endangered species) in partnership with SEOR: acquisition of data on the flight corridors of these birds by fitting transceivers. EDF is involved in the financing of the project and with fitting equipment on our networks (receivers).

EDF’s R&D Department also carries out research on the assessment of ecological equivalence. Thus, EDF recently financed a thesis defended in 2018 with Irstea and the Natural History Museum concerning the preparation of a method to verify the achievement of ecological equivalence. This involves measuring, using indicators, the losses related to the impacts and comparing the losses resulting from a development and gains resulting from the offsetting measure.

In the UK, as part of the offshore wind farm demonstrator project in Blyth, EDF Renewables UK reduces its impacts using the GBF (gravity based foundation) technique. The technique avoids digging foundations in the ocean floor. This is done in partnership with the University of Newcastle, which monitors the presence of marine mammals around the site;

n Cameroon, a first E&S study was conducted on the Nachtigal project in 2006, then updated in 2011. Additional biodiversity studies were conducted in 2014 and 2015 to complete these impact studies and enable the drafting of an in-depth operational E&S Management Plan and a biodiversity action plan in 2016, with specific areas of action relating to offsetting measures (fishes) and support (endemic aquatic flora species). A support programme for the conservation of the Mpem and Djim National Park was launched (over €350k/year for 8 years).

In Laos, NTPC is maintaining its policy of protecting biodiversity in the river basin in conjunction with the WMPA, the authority managing it, with the specific aim of Nakai Nam Theun national park being added to the IUCN green list of protected areas. NTPC’s CEO is a member of the WMPA Board of Directors and is preparing to set up a Scientific Board, which will facilitate the preparation of WMPA’s action plans.

3.3.2.1.3 Knowing biodiversity issues and acting concretely

Knowing the ecological quality of land

The vast majority of EDF’s production sites are located close to protected sites (in France, 80% of hydropower sites are situated in or near a Natura 2000 site). These preserved sites, located close to waterways, bring together several factors that are conducive to biodiversity. The ecological management implemented on these sites aims to foster biodiversity.

EDF carries out an assessment of the biodiversity issues on its industrial sites and their immediate surroundings. Mandated by the Company, UNEP – WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre) carried out a vast study to assess the ecological sensitivity of places where the Group’s industrial sites are located⁽¹⁾, representing approximately 1,000 sites. Certain sites of the Group present bigger challenges in terms of biodiversity, either due to the proximity of a protected area, or due to the species they host (see section 3.6.8 “Ecological knowledge of land sites"). Thanks to the evaluation of the ecological value of its land, the Company integrates biodiversity as one decision-making criterion in its industrial choices⁽²⁾.

In 2019, EDF reviewed the indicator calculation methodology to take account of the latest changes to its geographical information system and better reflect the sites where a detailed ecological survey has been completed. At EDF Hydro, flood zones and areas of sites that could not be fully surveyed for topographical reasons or due to land fragmentation were reclassified.

Launched several years ago, the EDF ecological site survey programme has now been completed at several entities, which have surveyed all their sites. However, at EDF Hydro, where the survey programme is still ongoing, progress in the number of sites surveyed is structurally limited by the fragmentation, remoteness and inaccessibility of a good proportion of hydroelectric facility sites. The current programme, which should be completed in 2021, will have enabled EDF to survey the most interesting and most sensitive hydraulic sites, accordingly achieving the programme’s qualitative objectives, as quantitative objectives are of limited relevancy here.

EDF, an environmentally-friendly company

Level of awareness of the ecological value of the land (%)

• 2019: 52
• 2018: 51
• 2017: 50

Key non-financial performance indicator (see concordance table with the non-financial performance statement in section 8.5.4). For the scope and methodology of this indicator, see section 3.4 “Indicators and methodology”. This indicator refers to key stake no. 9 “The circular economy and conservation of biodiversity, water, air, soils and rare resources” described in section 3.6.2 “Description of key stakes in the materiality matrix”.

(1) Analysis carried out in September 2018 by the WCMC for EDF, EDF Renewables, EDF Energy, Edison, EDF China and the International Division (Luminus, MECO, Nachtigal, EDF Norte Fluminense, NTPC, SLOE, and SINOP).
(2) See section 3.1.2.4.1.