From education to biodiversity: lessons in sustainability at Moldova Nouă

That wind farms are allies of the environment can be seen clearly in the numbers denoting the quantity of clean energy they produce and polluting emissions they avoid. But the benefits do not stop here and also concern environmental conservation and the positive effects that these facilities can have on local areas and communities. One tangible example of all-encompassing sustainability can be found in Romania in the Banato region in the south west of the country. Here Enel Green Power opened the Moldova Nouă plant and has now concluded a series of interventions that not only improve efficiency but also help protect plant and animal species and raise awareness among the younger generations about renewable energy. Improving plant efficiency The Moldova Nouă wind farm entered into operation between December 2011 and August 2012. It consists of 21 2.3MW wind turbines, boasting an overall peak capacity of 48MW and an annual capacity of 130 million kW/h: this effectively prevents the emission into the atmosphere of 70,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. EGP Romania has since applied a series of technical improvements that have boosted the plant’s overall energy efficiency. In particular, solutions have been adopted to modify the profile of the turbine blades in such a way that they no longer stop working in the event of sudden gusts of wind, while also reducing the noise they make as they turn. A software update has meant that these interventions can be maximized also in terms of boosting production. EGP has in fact forecast an increase of between 0.5% and 2% in annual production and 10% more operating time as the wind turbines can now exploit more challenging weather conditions. All this is in addition to an upgrade, which was carried out between 2017 and 2018, of the oil filter system used to lubricate the moving parts of the transformers, resulting in an overall saving of 500 litres of oil per year. Creating value through schools and universities One innovative feature linked to the maintenance of Moldova Nouă is that the replaceable components, such as small motors, pumps, batteries, pistons and gears are all redeployed. In line with a circular and sustainable approach, these items are given to secondary schools for educational use; thereby bringing new life to parts that would otherwise be discarded. This initiative is part of a wider program of collaboration with schools and universities promoted by EGP Romania. The wind farm also hosts student visits and holds practical sessions and workshops on various themes, from technology to day-to-day operations to security aspects. “We aim to develop relationships with local communities and we do our best to make sure that our activities coincide with their interests. Relationships with the area’s educational institutions are most important, particularly when it comes to vocational training for apprentices. We will continue to offer local students the chance to learn from us by enabling them to witness our daily operations, specific procedures and routine and special maintenance operations.” Gheorghiu Florin, Head of Power Generation Romania EGP In particular, an agreement has been signed with the LTCD (Liceul Technologic Clisura Dunărij) High School in Moldova Nouă to enrich students’ educational pathway with technical lessons about renewables, energy management and power grids, knowledge that is particularly in demand in the current employment market. “We are also proud of the fact that we use local firms for the supply of technical services. We feel that this is important in an economically depressed area which is dependent on one industry. We therefore try and explain to students and other members of the community the type of services that our plant needs”, says Florin. “I am happy about the collaboration that has been created with Enel Green Power in Romania because, as a result, our students feel more stimulated to go to university, after passing their school diplomas, to study energy-related subjects.” Mihaela David-Izvernar, Head Teacher of the LTCD high school in Moldova Nouă Another collaboration has been launched with the three-year graduate course at the Engineering Faculty at UBB University in Reșița, a city located not far from the power plant; the course has a strong emphasis on Electrical Engineering and Industrial IT. “At the end of every workshop, we received extremely positive feedback from the students. The direct contact with this technology, which was ably explained by the experts from Enel Green Power, has generated real interest from our students. We hope that this collaboration can continue in the future.” Christian Paul Chioncel, Deputy Rector of the UBB University in Reșița A habitat worth preserving Arguably the most important sustainability aspect at the Moldova Nouă wind farm concerns the safeguarding of biodiversity: EGP Romania is committed to preserving this through a series of initiatives and collaborations designed to raise awareness of the ecosystem and to protect the more vulnerable species. The site, for example, is a natural habitat for some rare species of orchid. A study carried out by experts from the University of Bucharest Botanical Garden highlighted the positive role of the wind farm in encouraging the conservation of these flowering plants. This is also thanks to the way the area is maintained, with careful pruning, thereby creating the ideal conditions in which these plants can grow. The research into the orchids is one of a number of initiatives to monitor biodiversity. These serve not only to verify the wind farm’s respect for a series of environmental parameters, but also to find solutions that are more effective in terms of the wellbeing of the local wildlife. A partnership launched with SOR, the Romanian Ornithological Society, has, for example, enabled the activation of initiatives to protect storks. This is also through the monitoring of their nests with a specially developed app. The collaboration with the Portile de Fier nature reserve has launched a monitoring programme for the native bat population, as well as for the local presence of the extremely rare Saker falcons, a pair of which have nested on an electric power line pylon. Several solutions to prevent them from flying near the blades of the wind turbines have also been developed, meaning that they can continue to live in the area in complete safety. A wind farm is not an island. The example of Moldova Nouă shows that our commitment to making positive changes to the world, the environment and the local community is as resolute as ever.

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From education to biodiversity: lessons in sustainability at Moldova Nouă

From education to biodiversity: lessons in sustainability at Moldova Nouă