SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Some call it the “Paulista Silicon Valley”, but only 30 years ago it wasn’t but a rural and marginal area of metropolitan Sao Paulo, with limited growth opportunities. This is Vila Olímpia, known today as one of the main financial centers of Brazil and the site chosen for the development of an innovative proposal for digitalization of the electric power grids.
In October 2019, the Enel Group submitted the “Urban Futurability” project in Sao Paulo, which main objective was the installation of 5,000 sensors throughout the whole electric power grid of Vila Olímpia for the construction of a tridimensional digital model of the infrastructure. This technology is called “Network Digital Twin”, a jumping step for the Industria 4.0 that integrates the grid automation, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and 3D models.
“Urban Futurability” is key towards progressing along the line of ODS 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and ODS 7 (accessible and non-polluting Energy), which are central to the commitments of Enel Américas and to its business strategy which, in turn, is aligned with the commitment towards Acción por el Clima (ODS 13).
This is the vision guiding the countries where Enel Américas operates towards energy transition, with more than 25 million customers in the main capital cities of the continent.
ENEL AMÉRICAS IN THE REGION
In 2016, Enel Américas, the largest private electric power company in the region, decided to place its bets on a diversified business model. In this model, sustainability is the fundamental pillar in economic, social, and environmental development, with a long-term view and delivering solutions to the greater demands derived from the high urbanization rates of the region, in accordance with that established by the United Nations. From this perspective, the presence of the company in the mega cities of the continent: Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Río de Janeiro, Bogotá, and Lima, are key elements.
In Bogotá, the Transmilenio project consists in the design and construction of four electric terminals where 477 electric buses of the public Sistema Integrado de Transporte of that city are to be charged, installing 223 charging points and the associated electric power infrastructure. The objective is to guarantee the main power supply for the adequate operation of the fleet, through efficient and intelligent management that enables the optimization not only of operational costs, but to continue reducing the carbon footprint of the city.
Lima and Buenos Aires develop and strengthen their electric power distribution grids through digitalization. All of these experiences are part one same success history: the sustainable business model fostered by Enel Américas to take energy transition to the continent, not only positively impacting persons and the environment, but creating greater value for the stockholders as well.
OPEN POWER FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Open Power for a brighter future. We empower sustainable progress. This is the purpose that drives and guides us and each one of our business lines and affiliates in the creation of sustainable value for the company as well as for all of its stakeholder groups. Enel Américas, as part of the Enel Group, has focused its objective towards a sustainable business based upon innovation to create long-term value, since sustainability and innovation are integrated concepts and essential to each other. By means of the Open Power vision, Enel Américas aims to open access to electric power to a larger number of people, to open the world of energy to new technologies, to open electric power management to people, and to open the possibility of new uses for energy.
The sustainable business strategy adopted by Enel Américas, leads the Company to contribute in a concrete manner to the 17 Sustainable Development Objectives (ODS) promoted by the United Nations. Enel has a specific commitment with six of them, guiding management transversally: quality education (ODS4), access to non-polluting energy (ODS 7), contribution to socio-economic development (ODS8), promoting innovation in a responsible industrialization and of resilient infrastructures (ODS 9), promoting sustainable cities and communities (ODS11), and climate action (ODS13) with the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
The 2020 – 2022 Enel Américas Strategic Plan considers investments for US$ 5,300 million, of which 92% is directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Objectives committed by the Enel Group.
ENERGY TRANSITION: THE SUCCESS OF A SUSTAINABLE MODEL
Today, energy poverty is considered to be one of the most important challenges of the global energy agenda, since access to safe and continuous energy conditions human development, both at a social and at an economic level according to the United Nations Development Program (PNUD).
In order to increase access and improve energy supply in homes, in the countries where Enel Américas operates, progress has taken place in defining and closing existing gaps, as well as progressing in energy sustainability.
These guidelines mark the industry in the respective countries. Enel Américas is committed to the respective government plans and in this way, to be a relevant actor for energy development. As an example of this, there is a summary below.
Argentina: the Government Ministry of Energy defined the energy transition objectives to 2050.
Brazil: The Ministry of Mines and Energy published an energy expansion plan for the 2020-2029 period. This plan considers increasing renewable capacity from the current 80% to 84% by 2029, as a way of meeting the Paris objectives and the country commitments made.
Colombia: In order to respond to the challenges of sustainable development, the Energy and Mining Planning Unit (UPME) of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, publish the National Energy Plan (PEN) 2020-2050 that contains seven objectives in its long-term policy to respond to the country's energy transition. (Something is missing in this statement…)
Perú: The Ministry of Energy and Mining prepared the 2014-2025 National Energy Plan in which the Energy Policy is proposed with the vision of having an energy system that meets national energy demand in a reliable, regular, continuous, and efficient manner that fosters sustainable development supported by planning, research, and continuous technological innovation.
The following Sustainability Report responds to the Communication of Progress (COP) of the United Nations Global Compact, to the model of the IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council), and the SDG Compass, a guide that facilitates the adaptation of sustainability strategies to the Objectives of United Nations Sustainable Development.
By means of the following link you may have access to the 2019 Enel Américas Sustainability Report and in this same platform you will find detailed content on the Sustainability actions by the company.