Protecting Biodiversity, Inspiring Learning

Protecting the environment around our power stations is something we’re strongly committed to. Our biodiversity framework focusses on conserving and enhancing biodiversity and ensures our sites have Biodiversity Action Plans in place where there are habitats of conservation value. Many of our sites have an Environment and Education Centre, delivering aspects of the school curriculum through inspiring practical learning. Here are just some of our biodiversity and education initiatives we undertook in 2011:

  • The Aberthaw Centre for Energy and Environment, ACE2, was officially opened in January 2011 by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones. At a cost of £1m, it is used for a variety of educational functions. We have a contract with Keep Wales Tidy for three days a week to deliver training to schools on energy and environment in accordance with the national curriculum. The centre has a number of sustainable features including air source heat pumps, solar panels and grey rain water recovery. 36,000 tonnes of ash were re-used in its construction and all the materials used in the building can be reused or recycled at end of life. To date, over 100 school visits have taken place at the centre from schools across South Wales.
  • Aberthaw Power Station was a Finalist in the Tidy Wales Awards in recognition for our conservation and biodiversity efforts.
  •  At Tilbury Power Station a new wildlife pond has been created, and a number of common lizards have been relocated from an operational area of the power station to a more suitable location.
  • A biodiversity day was held at Fawley Power Station. Activities completed included scrub clearance and litter picking.

Landfill Community Fund

All landfill in the UK is taxed. Rather than pay the Government, however, companies can invest part of that money in environmental projects instead. This is why we have a Landfill Community Fund.

In the year 2010/2011 we had a Landfill Community Fund of over £5,700 to invest in projects that benefit the environment. The Fund was split between three projects in Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Bridgend, Wales. All environmental projects applying for support must be registered with Entrust, the organisation responsible for regulating the Landfill Communities Fund.