Annual Report 2010 - Enel.com

mapping of production sites located in “water scarcity”
areas by comparing the per capita local average value
of renewable water resources using the reference set
by FAO, with the help of special software such as that
developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development;
> identification of “critical” production sites, i.e. with
fresh water supplies;
> more efficient management by making changes to
plants or processes that are intended to maximize use
of waste water and sea water;
> monitoring of climate data for each site.
Renewable energy
In recent years, due to the increasing demand for energy
worldwide and the high volatility of oil prices, there has
been growing attention on the environment and the push
towards ecologically sustainable forms of energy across
the world. Given this, renewables are a key factor that
has experienced unprecedented growth thanks to technological
advances and strong political support. From this
standpoint, Italy is a country rich in resources and industrial
history. In particular, hydroelectric power has historically
played and still today plays a major role.
Enel Green Power (EGP) is the Enel Group company dedicated
to the development and management of power
generated from renewable sources worldwide. In 2010,
EGP beat the challenge posed by the challenging financial
and economic situation, launching a successful IPO on
November 4. During the months EGP was preparing for
its IPO on the Milan and Spanish stock exchanges, the renewable
energy industry continued to grow in leaps and
bounds. The green economy has therefore continued to
make an important contribution to the economic recovery,
but in a dramatically different context than in the
past, forcing the renewables industry to deal with rapidly
changing political and regulatory frameworks.
By using the full range of available technologies (hydroelectric,
wind, solar, geothermal and biomass), Enel is not
reliant upon the performance of a single source. Geographical
diversification is another one of its strengths.
Since it operates in different areas and markets – including
Europe, North America and Latin America – that react
at different speeds and with different patterns of development,
Enel can maneuver between varying economic
performances and political/regulatory policies, thereby
reducing the risk that its investments will be tied up in unproductive
activities.
The Group has undertaken a strategy to strengthen its entire
solar energy value chain. Enel.si, with over 500 franchisees
in Italy, supplies and provides services to retail customers
for distributed generation from renewable energy
and energy efficiency.
Enel’s commitment to the environment and to future generations,
combined with awareness of its economic and
social responsibility can contribute to a future in which
cutting emissions will improve the quality of life of people
by providing sustainable, affordable and safe electricity.
Biodiversity
Preserving biodiversity is one of the strategic objectives
of Enel’s environmental policy and has become an established
practice of the Group. In most cases, actions taken
by the Group to protect biodiversity have been voluntary
(adoption of ISO 14001 or EMAS management systems),
although sometimes the national standards of various
countries affect strategies, initiatives and specific plans of
action.
The EU made 2010 the year for biodiversity. The EU Green
Week – the biggest annual event on European environmental
policy – was held in Brussels from June 1-4, sponsored
by the Directorate General for the Environment. The
Enel Group was the only energy company to participate,
bringing with it its experience in protecting biodiversity.
The main activities carried out in this area relate to power
plants and their surrounding areas and consist of preventive
and remedial projects, socio-environmental studies and
applied research projects for sustainable development.
The Group promotes a number of projects in Italy and
abroad, with the aim of supporting the preservation of
ecosystems and the natural habitats of the different territories
in which it operates, not only as industrial operator,
but also as active participants in the social, cultural and
environmental live by contributing to reducing the rate of
biodiversity loss.
In all countries in which it operates, the Group manages
sites and facilities located within or near protected areas
(national parks, sites of Community importance, etc.).
From the standpoint of managing this environmental aspect,
Enel first conducts impact studies to systematically
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