Bird protection on medium-voltage overhead lines draft

Medium-voltage overhead lines pose a danger to certain bird species with body sizes or wingspans in the range of the insulation distances of the medium-voltage overhead lines. If these species settle on elevated locations, such as in this case on medium-voltage overhead lines, due to their species-typical behavior, they can bridge the distances between a conductor and earthed parts or two live parts with their bodies or wings or via a stream of droppings.

Bird species particularly at risk from electric shock in Germany include storks, birds of prey, and owls. Bird protection measures are specifically targeted at these species.

The Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), as amended in 2009, legally defines the protection of birds along medium-voltage overhead lines in Section 41. The aim of the law is to ensure that newly erected masts and technical components of medium-voltage overhead lines are designed to protect birds from electric shock in order to protect bird species.

To improve the protection of these bird species, this draft standard has been revised and is intended to replace VDE-AR-N 4210-11:2011-08. Due to new findings in bird protection and the technical development of measures, the requirements of VDE-AR-N 4210-11:2011-08 have been revised in specific areas based on the experience gained. Thus, the current version of the application guide provides the basis for bird protection measures on medium-voltage overhead lines.

The protection goal is to prevent dangerous electrical currents from passing through overhead power lines and causing birds to be struck. This protection goal can be achieved by installing special cabling, maintaining minimum distances, isolating live parts, creating insulated perches, or eliminating perches altogether.