State Grid Zhejiang subsidiary ramping up biodiversity efforts

"Over the past two years, we have discovered some new species, and now more and more creatures inhabit here," a staff member of the Jingning Conservation Zone in the Qianjiangyuan-Baishanzu National Park told Li Zhukai, an employee of the Zhejiang subsidiary of the State Grid. Under a special action called State Grid Green Ark Program, the company recently inspected power transmission lines in this area which is home to various animals, especially rare birds.

Baishanzu National Park is of irreplaceable ecological importance to the biodiversity in the Yangtze River Delta. "Recently, birds’ activities near electrical equipment are particularly frequent, including many rare species. Now we use the infrared imaging function of a drone to clearly find birds’ nests around the equipment and take protective measures before we treat power line defects, so as not to disturb their life," Li said.

The State Grid Zhejiang subsidiary has taken "State Grid Green Ark Program" actions in the past several years. In Lishui city, East China’s Zhejiang province, where the national park is located, the company has teamed up on a long-term basis with the local government, local people and police in taking such actions. The company has built zero-carbon micro grids in and around the habitat of rare species in Baishanzu National Park. Through the seamless switch of power supply between the main grid and micro grids, the Zhejiang subsidiary has enabled 100 percent renewable energy supply in the reserve to support human activities such as daily remote observation and species protection work.

The company now relies on a renewable electricity monitoring system to collect the dynamic information of mandarin ducks, macaques, yellow-bellied pheasants and other characteristic species in real time. In fact, the company adopts a trinity patrol mode, which leverage on rangers, drones and the renewable electricity cloud monitoring system to inspect mountain fire-prone areas, power lines in the forest, as well as animal and plant protection areas in an all-around way. This mode can shorten inspection circles, help stakeholders build a monitoring data sharing platform, and strengthen protection for the wild animals and plants.

"We even snapped a photo of the black stork, a national first-class protected animal. With your help, the ecology of Baishanzu National Park is getting stronger," bird photographers told employees of the Zhejiang subsidiary of the State Grid.

Since the establishment of Baishanzu National Park, the company has formed an information sharing and long-term communication mechanism with the local public security bureau, and jointly carried out safety knowledge training on a regular basis on preventing mountain fires, ensuring stable power supply and protecting biodiversity. Employees visit households in villages to promote knowledge on the safe operation of the power grid as well as wild animals and plants protection by sharing brochures and posting banners.

In the next stage, the company will continue to expand the observation range of the forest in Baishanzu, deepen its cooperation with the local government, coordinate the linkage to jointly ensure stable operation of the power grids and protect biodiversity. Employees will continue to carry out all-round, long-distance and efficient power transmission line inspections through the trinity mode, and make sure the "State Grid Green Ark Program" is there for various different species of animals.