Pylons and power lines: what’s their impact on nature?

The UK is committed to reaching net zero by 2050, as a contribution to international efforts to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5oC. This means we need more electricity to be produced by renewable energy so that we can stop using fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat our homes and power our vehicles. All this comes at a time when new technologies, such as AI, are increasing our energy consumption.  

The transition to cleaner energy will mean that new infrastructure is needed to carry electricity to our homes and businesses. The National Energy System Operator estimates that nearly 1,000 km of new powerlines or pylons, and 4,800 km of undersea cables, are needed to support a 95% clean power supply by 2030.  

To ensure that we can better protect and restore nature, we need that infrastructure to be built in a nature-friendly way, whether it’s solar, offshore wind or power lines. Given the scale of development, it’s vital that plans for new power lines: 

• avoid sites that are important for nature;  
• include compensation measures for any damage caused to habitats and wildlife; 
• include measures to enhance biodiversity where possible, such as wildflower planting. 

As a nature conservation charity, our focus has to be on the environmental impact of new infrastructure. We also know that cutting carbon emissions is urgent and vital for saving nature. That’s why we will only oppose new pylons and other electricity infrastructure if we believe the construction will cause irreversible harm to the natural environment or damage sites of high value for wildlife. 

For example, in 2022 we successfully campaigned, alongside our partners and supporters, for the National Grid not to route power lines through Hintlesham Woods, an ancient woodland in Suffolk, part of which is managed by the RSPB. 

We also don’t agree with plans to tunnel new electricity cables under RSPB North Warren in Suffolk, as we believe that there are other, less damaging, options for locating the new infrastructure.  

Environmental law makes clear that developments that would damage designated sites for nature should only be permitted where there are no other alternatives. 

Their impact on wildlife very much depends on where they’re built. For example, if pylons are erected in wetlands, they can pose a danger to certain birds, such as swans and geese. This is partly because they don’t have good forward-facing vision and so they may not see pylons when they’re flying.  

Birds of prey can also be electrocuted by perching on pylon poles, if they accidentally touch live equipment.   

• New power lines and pylons should be strategically planned in a nature-friendly way, to avoid sensitive sites for wildlife. 
• Collisions can be prevented by planning pylons away from areas that are important for birds, by burying pylons underground, or by using small reflective devices known as bird diverters that can hang on wires. When collisions have been reported to us, we have often liaised with the power company to identify a solution. 
• Burying pylons underground is the best solution to prevent collisions, but this may not always be appropriate for nature overall – for instance, if it means destroying important habitat or poses a threat to rare plant and fungi species. We need the industry to fund and share more research into the impact of powerlines on nature and how technological solutions can minimise the risk. 
• New infrastructure can even help nature’s recovery, if sensitive sites for nature are avoided and strategies for improving biodiversity are put in place. These could include measures at the site, such as planting wildflowers and shrubs, or off-site measures through Biodiversity Net Gain.