LIFE Aegypius Return project questions the impact of mega renewable energy projects.
La LIFE Aegypius Return project consortium has already issued more than 40 technical opinions on projects or plans with a potential impact on the territory, including 23 on renewable energy developments across the country. Only three assessments were negative, including those for the Beira and Sophia mega photovoltaic plants, both in Beira-Baixa (central Portugal).
A truly green transition
The partners involved in LIFE Aegypius Return, which is dedicated to the conservation of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Portugal and western Spain, strongly support the energy transition and the objectives of the Portuguese National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC) 2030. Decarbonisation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are crucial to slowing climate change, which impacts further exacerbate the already severe biodiversity crisis. However, they argue that a balance must be found. If renewable energy production irreversibly compromises biodiversity and natural resources, it ceases to be green, fair, or sustainable.
Over 40 technical opinions and intense participation
Individually or collectively, the LIFE Aegypius Return project partners have already issued more than 40 technical opinions or comments on projects, plans or initiatives that may impact the territory, biodiversity, and especially the Cinereous Vulture.
Among the initiatives analysed are many solar and wind energy projects, power lines, proposals to change the boundaries of protected areas, management plans, reorganisation programmes for protected areas, strategies, and national-level guiding documents.
Active participation in public consultation processes, participatory sessions and open meetings has led to numerous invitations to discussion forums, technical meetings and requests for preliminary information, especially in the context of new renewable energy projects.
The partners value these opportunities, which ensure that biodiversity has an active and informed voice in these decisions, and promote the definition of measures that enable the energy transition to remain compatible with the protection of species, habitats and landscapes.
Science-based opinions
All the opinions issued under the LIFE Aegypius Return project are based on scientific knowledge, such as the location of breeding, feeding and resting areas for scavenging birds, as well as the analysis of the movements and behaviour of vultures equipped with GPS/GSM transmitters, which reveal flight corridors and dispersal areas. The vast majority of the birds monitored remotely are Cinereous Vultures tagged as part of the LIFE Aegypius Return project, but they also include Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) tagged during the LIFE Rupis project or Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) monitored in the Sentinelas project, coordinated by partner Palombar.
Understanding the ecological and feeding geography of these species makes it possible to identify areas that are particularly vulnerable to barrier or exclusion effects.
These data also allow the calculation of home ranges and core areas (where juveniles concentrate 50% of their activity during the first months of life) around nests, supporting recommendations for minimum safety distances to infrastructures that pose collision risks (power lines, wind turbines) or electrocution risks (poorly insulated pylons).
For species with isolated and relatively small breeding colonies, the loss of a single individual can compromise the long-term viability of the colony and, consequently, the sustainability of the national population. This is particularly damaging in the case of relatively rare and threatened species such as the Cinereous Vulture and the Egyptian Vulture, both classified as Endangered, in Portugal.
Incompatible projects
In every renewable energy project assessed, the consortium sought to identify solutions to avoid and minimise risks to wildlife. In some cases, residual risk remained within acceptable limits, allowing for discussion of compensatory measures related to landscape disturbance or habitat loss. However, as they were planned, three reviewed projects proved fundamentally incompatible with biodiversity conservation, and with the conservation of the Cinereous Vulture in particular: the Beira Photovoltaic Plant (CFBeira), the Sophia Photovoltaic Plant (CFSophia) and the Pinel Hybrid (solar and wind) Project (PHPinel).
These projects would occupy extensive areas of territory crucial for the survival of the species and for the expansion and connectivity of existing colonies. None adequately considered cumulative impacts from the many other projects planned for the same regions, nor did they propose monitoring plans robust enough to assess bird occurrence or mortality associated with the infrastructures.
Beira Photovoltaic Plant
CFBeira planned to install solar panels just 3 km from nests belonging to the largest Cinereous Vulture colony in Portugal, at Tejo Internacional, posing high risks of collision and electrocution, as well as disturbance during construction.
The project would also affect the habitat of other rare species such as the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata).
Moreover, this solar plant would be partially located within the Tejo Internacional Nature Park and would fall entirely within the new boundaries proposed by the national authority for nature conservation (ICNF) for the Natura 2000 network (Special Protection Area of Tejo Internacional, Erges and Pônsul), already submitted to public consultation – an arrangement that is wholly incompatible with the conservation objectives of this protected area.
The project would also require the removal of 464 holm oaks (Quercus rotundifolia) and 15 cork oaks (Quercus suber), which are species protected species in Portugal.
Sophia Photovoltaic Plant
CFSophia would affect more than 1,350 hectares of land of high conservation importance, stripping the area of its current ecological functionality and adding to multiple other renewable energy projects that will occupy large areas in the region. For the Cinereous Vulture, this region is demonstrably important for feeding and resting, with several roost sites confirmed. The solar power plant alone would impact over 1,150 hectares, located roughly 24 and 32 kilometres from the Cinereous Vulture breeding colonies of Serra da Malcata and Tejo Internacional, respectively. In 2024, these two colonies fledged a total of 36 to 37 juveniles, around 75 % of the chicks produced nationwide. The proximity of CFSophia to three quarters of the national reproductive population makes it a serious threat to the species’ conservation.
In addition, the cutting of cork oaks, holm oaks and Pyrenean oaks (Q. pyrenaica), whether isolated or in stands, is unacceptable in the name of climate action.
The area of the Sophia Photovoltaic Power Station is for feeding and resting of Cinereous Vultures and other endangered species. © Paulo Monteiro/SPEA
Pinel Hybrid Project
PHPinel is located very close to the recently established Vidigueira/Portel Cinereous Vulture colony. The proposed layout included wind turbines only 3.2 km from the nearest nest, solar panels 2.8 km away, and power line pylons at just 2 km, which would be incompatible with safeguarding the colony.
The proximity of wind turbines is especially critical, given that a LIFE Aegypius Return estudio recommends a minimum safety distance of 7.7 km.
The Vidigueira/Portel colony is surrounded by numerous other energy projects which, taken together, pose a significant cumulative threat to its survival.
Tagging of a Cinereous Vulture chick in the Vidigueira-Portel colony © LPN
Sustainable energy
LIFE Aegypius Return partners recognise that renewable energy is a key ally in tackling the climate crisis. However, “clean” energy must also be as clean as possible for biodiversity.
The consortium – and in particular the NGOs involved – remain fully committed to identifying technical solutions that reconcile conservation with renewable energy development, designating renewable acceleration areas, and promoting cooperation. They maintain an open door for dialogue and for putting into practice the scientific knowledge associated with nature conservation and the enhancement of all types of ecosystem services.
About the LIFE Aegypius Return project
The LIFE Aegypius Return project is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme. Its success depends on the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders and the collaboration of the partners: the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), the coordinating beneficiary, and local partners Palombar – Conservation of Nature and Rural Heritage, Herdade da Contenda, the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, the League for the Protection of Nature, the Transhumance and Nature Association, Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre, the National Republican Guard y the National Association of Rural Owners of Game Management and Biodiversity.
