Think Smartgrids publishes its new white paper, the result of work carried out throughout 2025 on the opportunities linked to digital innovations to reduce the environmental footprint of electrical networks.
The challenge is clear: to accelerate the decarbonization of the energy system without increasing pressure on biodiversity, whose erosion is accelerating. However, power grids cover the entire territory and result in very little land development, making them ideal candidates for hosting biodiversity reservoirs and recreating ecological corridors.
At the heart of this alliance: data and digital tools. LiDAR, satellite imagery, sensors, GIS, and artificial intelligence are paving the way for predictive vegetation management, improved assessment of the “ecological value” of land areas, and enhanced anticipation of natural hazards such as wildfires.
The white paper explores, in particular:
🔹 the use of data to reduce upstream impacts (digital product passport, eco-design)
🔹 the potential of power line corridors as ecological corridors
🔹 the potential of AI and remote sensing to optimize vegetation management, identify local biodiversity issues, and better anticipate climate risks and wildfires
🔹 emerging biodiversity challenges related to offshore wind farm deployment
🎙️ To further this discussion, we are organizing a webinar on July 7th at 4:00 PM with a roundtable of experts:
▪️ Laurent Poncet, Director of PatriNat, nature expertise and data center (MNHN / OFB)
▪️ Thomas Brichet, National Vegetation Management Expert, RTE
▪️ Dr. Emmanuel Garbolino, researcher at ISIGE Mines Paris – PSL
▪️ Caroline Joigneau-Guesnon, Partnership and Institutional Relations Officer, Biodiversity & Soil, IGN
▪️ Sofiane Kriat, Building and 3D Product Manager, IGN
Many thanks to Melinda Murail (RTE) for her contribution to the white paper, to the students of École des Ponts et Chaussées, and to all the network managers, researchers, and environmental associations interviewed.
Link to the white paper: https://extranet.thinksmartgrids.fr/?get_group_doc=9/1781540943-TSG-LivreBlanc2026-Biodiversitetdonnes.pdf
Webinar registration link: https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/webinaire-ia-donnees-et-biodiversite-tickets-1990472120695?aff=oddtdtcreator
