Life Elia

The LIFE Elia-RTE project just received the first prize in the "Environmental protection" category in a European contest organized by the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI).

This award, received on November 19th in Brussels, highlights the continuous involvement of Elia in Belgium and RTE in France in the LIFE Elia-RTE project. For the team of 7 people, it is a great recognition for the work done at all levels.

Along with the Danish winner (for "Technology and Design" category) and Ireland (for the "Communication and participation" category), the project LIFE-Elia RTE continues its European adventure...all the way from Belgian and French forests.

2015 Award winners Fintan Slye (EirGrid), Simon de Voghel (LIFE Elia-RTE), Gérard Jadoul (LIFE Elia-RTE), Antonella Battaglini (RGI), Olivier Feix (Elia Group), Johan Mortier (Elia Group), Leif Lüdemann (ESCSH), and jury members Marie Donnelly and Baard Eilertsen.

The Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) promotes the integration of 100% electricity generated from renewable energy. Composed of managers of Transmission System Operator (TSO) in Europe and small and large Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), its mission is to support the build-up of a sufficient grid infrastructure in Europe for both decentralised and large-scale renewable energy sources, while ensuring maximum social acceptance of this network.

A jury of experts from various fields

The jury brings together people from many backgrounds: DG Energy, major NGOs, Universities, international foundations and large companies related to energy.

Testimonials

For Gérard Jadoul, coordinator of LIFE Elia-RTE, it is the occasion to underline that "linear infrastructure can play a major role in biodiversity, making connections between natural habitats for many species, a real asset for the Natura 2000 network" and that "the methods of LIFE Elia -RTE are part of the solution in meeting the challenge that all TSO are facing : integrate renewables, take into account the landscape and biodiversity while ensuring social acceptance. "

For Johan Mortier, Department of Environment Elia, "if the company had undertaken this project, it was initially to test different vegetation management methods. It was a great surprise that, at the end of the day, these field actions turned out to be less costly for Elia while increasing societal acceptance by implementing local partnerships. "

There are still two years for the LIFE Elia-RTE project to go further, both on site and on the European stage.