We remain committed to the development of renewable energy sources through our activities, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the need to raise awareness of environmental issues that concern and affect everyone is highlighted once more. We are actively participating in this dialogue, as we maintain our daily commitment to the development and adoption of renewable energy sources through various projects, aiming for the reduction of carbon emissions, the protection of biodiversity, and in general, a more sustainable future for all.
As a global leader in the field of green energy, we place the energy transition and the fight against the global energy crisis at the forefront of our actions, implementing circular economy projects and ensuring access to electricity even in the most disadvantaged areas of the planet. We invest in new technologies for battery systems to improve their flexibility and performance, we integrate renewable energy sources in various sectors (agrivoltaics, green buildings, innovative materials, etc.) and we’re constantly looking for ways to give the components of our systems a new use, once they’ve reached the end-of-life phase.
Sustainability and innovation at the forefront
Enel Green Power places sustainability and innovation at the center of its strategy, contributing to the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. We promote a fair, transparent and orderly energy transition so as not to create inequality – a transition based on active listening, openness and creative solutions, capable of freeing talents and passions, valuing uniqueness, strengthening its ties with communities, and involving customers and suppliers.
However, our goals for a more sustainable future do not stop there:
By 2025, we expect to reach a total managed installed capacity of 75 GW, including 4 GW of BESS – Battery Energy Storage Systems. The Enel Group’s target is to be producing 75% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
By 2027, the Group will complete the definitive phase-out of coal, and it will transform the areas of the old plants into new renewable energy centers open to activities that promote new social, economic, and environmental development of the local area.
By 2030, the Group expects to reach 154 GW of total renewable capacity and approximately 340 TWh of renewable production. With a strategy mainly dedicated to solar and wind power, it will be expanding its offer of innovative solutions. This will make it possible to achieve our goal of producing energy that is 85% free from greenhouse gas emissions.
By 2040, the Enel fleet will be 100% renewable, the Group will no longer use or distribute gas, and our Net Zero target will be achieved.
Circular economy actions
We develop numerous global and local environmental initiatives in all the countries where we operate. In Greece, we’ve been implementing zero waste and circular economy projects for years.
Soros wind farm, in Evros, is the site of our first circular economy project in Greece, where parts of old damaged wooden electricity poles were used to create a fully equipped picnic area with a kiosk, tables and benches, all made of reclaimed wood. The area is aimed at hikers and visitors, while at the same time, it serves as a useful wildfire observation point. Through this project, several tons of wood that would otherwise have ended up in landfills found a new use, while the whole initiative created genuine shared value with the local community.
Agrivoltaic systems are another "green" practice – in addition to the use of renewable energy sources and circular economy opportunities, they offer many benefits to the agricultural sector. By combining solar parks with agricultural activities, the agricultural sector is empowered, resulting in more efficient crops, better use of resources and opportunities to utilize abandoned land areas. Thanks to agrivoltaics, agricultural crops can improve their yield from 20% to 60%, while water consumption can be reduced by up to 20% as a result of the partial shade provided by the photovoltaic modules. The first example of this type of agrivoltaic system in Greece is the award-winning Vamvakies Social Green Project at our solar park in Polymylos, Kozani, set up in collaboration with Wise Greece and CluBE. This particular initiative gave a group of unemployed women from the local community the opportunity to cultivate the land around the solar panels and use the crops to create food products.
Protecting the natural environment
We implement important reforestation projects in areas of Evia (also known as Euboea) and Kozani. To date, 1,168.747 hectares have been reforested, while 137,649 saplings have been planted in these areas. An indicative example is our reforestation project of Kastanologgos in Evia. The centuries-old chestnut forest is located below the rocky peak of Mount Ochi. According to estimates by experts, it has shrunk by 40% since 1945 and could disappear in just a few years. Our activities have significantly helped the region, since, with a total investment of 2 million euros, we’ve taken action on 240 acres of the existing forest and planted new trees in the surrounding 400 acres.
The Kastanologgos project includes the careful selection of the native chestnut variety to be planted, the strategic placement of 30,000 saplings to restore the continuity of the forest cover, the construction of more than 13,000 meters of fencing to protect the area from grazing animals, and the provision of a sufficient water supply for the trees, through the construction of water tanks and an irrigation network that extends over 3,000 meters.
Our people are at the forefront of our efforts
True to our commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection, we implement volunteering clean-up activities with the participation of our employees. These initiatives, in various regions of Greece, aim to collect waste, garbage, but also items for recycling, for a more beautiful and clean natural area.
At the same time, the company implements environmental awareness initiatives in the workplace, like the "Go Green" recycling program. In addition, aiming to create a sustainable "green" society for everyone, we encourage energy saving habits, like the "LightsOFF" initiative, which reminds all employees to turn off the lights when leaving the office.
