Environmental care

"ERG believes that the complete compatibility of its activities with the health and safety of workers, the territory, natural resources and the surrounding environment is an essential condition both for the acceptability of its plants and its operational activities, as well as the achievement of its growth objectives. ERG thus constantly works to ensure that the business operations of all Group companies are carried out with full respect for the health and safety of its employees and third parties, as well as the environment, intended in the broadest sense, carefully considering these factors as part of the long-term planning process and encouraging the adoption of environmentally-friendly and energy effi cient technologies." 

(from ERG Group Code of Ethics)


One of our priorities and business responsibilities is the battle against climate change, which is mainly caused by the atmospheric emission of greenhouse gases, largely made up of carbon dioxide.

To reduce and offset greenhouse gases and respect European sustainability targets, for years we have pursued a long-term strategy based on the development of renewable sources, the promotion of energy efficiency, the use of the best techniques available for ensuring a constant reduction in emissions, and the use of fuels with low carbon content (natural gas) to reduce atmospheric pollution.

CO2 avoided: 2018-2022

CO2 avoided: 2018-2022
To calculate CO2 avoided we have used the gCO2/kWh conversion factor published by Terna in its annual reports and referred to the thermoelectric power output of each country.

Decarbonising our electricity production

Decarbonising our electricity production
The transformation of our Group has enabled us to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of our output over the years.

In this way, at the end of 2018 we had reduced the carbon intensity of our output by 90% since entering the renewable energies sector. In the last four years we have reduced it by 42%.

RES (GWh)/Carbon index (gCO2/kWh)/CO2 avoided (kt) Production

Data series:

Years:

    2017 2016 2015
Production GWh 3.613 3.501 2.614
Load factor   23% 23% 21%
Indirect energy consumption (1) GWh 11,1 10,9 10,0
CO2 avoided  kt 2.270 2.271 (3)6,1
Indirect CO2 emissions (2)  kt 1,4 5,5 947
SF6 present in the electrical equipment kg  924 986 896
SF6 in stock kg 1.333 n/a n/a
SF6 top ups  kg 3,2 n/a n/a
equivalent to tons of CO2 t  76 n/a n/a
F-GAS present in air conditioning systems kg 80 90 n/a
Waste produced t 56 50 58
of which sent to recycling % 60,9% n/a n/a
Waste hazardous produced t  35 21 37
of which sent to recycling t 16 n/a n/a
of which sent to recycling % 45,7% n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal t 19 n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal % 54,3% n/a n/a
Waste non-hazardous produced t 21 29 21
of which sent to recycling t 18 n/a n/a
of which sent to recycling % 85,7% n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal t 3 n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal % 14,3% n/a n/a

(1) The increase in consumption is caused by the increase in the plants running.

(2) The 2016 and 2017 figures take into consideration the supplies of electricity from renewable production which does not generate emissions; the indirect emissions are calculated on the basis of the conversion factors relating to the gross thermoelectric production of each country published by Terna on its website (Source: Terna, 2015 international comparisons) according to a Location Based approach.

(3) Value recalculated with respect to that indicated in the 2016 sustainability Report using the CO2 emission factor of each country and based on the gross thermoelectric production (Source: Terna, 2015 international comparisons).  

    2017 2016 2015
Production GWh 1.144 1.358 84
Technical availability plants   96,63%% 96,52% n/a
Energy consumption from primary sources - Diesel fuel(1) litri 17.000 28.700 18.033
Indirect energy consumption GWh 13,9 7,7 n/a
CO2 avoided  kt 631 775 31
Indirect CO2 emissions(2)  kt 0,3 0 n/a
SF6 present in the electrical equipment kg 894 894 894
SF6 in stock kg 323 326 326
SF6 top ups  kg 2,9 n/a n/a
equivalent to tons of CO2 t  68 n/a n/a
F-GAS present in air conditioning systems kg 179 174 n/a
Total releases from concession (MVF) million m3 1.057 970 n/a
Waste produced t 2.866 2.747 n/a
of which sent to recycling % 99,0% 74,0% n/a
Waste hazardous produced t  12 3,0 n/a
of which sent to recycling t 11 2,4. n/a
of which sent to recycling % 91,7% 80,0% n/a
of which sent to disposal t 1 0,6 n/a
of which sent to disposal % 8,3% 20,0% n/a
Waste non-hazardous produced t 2.854 29 n/a
of which sent to recycling t 2.827 n/a n/a
of which sent to recycling % 99,1% n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal t 27 2.610 n/a
of which sent to disposal % 0,9%% n/a n/a
of which waste removed from rivers and water basins wood and grate cleaning residues)(3) t 2.525 2.610 n/a
of which sent for recycling   100% (4)77% n/a

(1) he diesel fuel is used to fuel power supply continuity systems and for office heating; emissions are not calculated for this consumption, as the figure represents the purchases and not the consumption, furthermore no final balance is drawn up.

(2) The 2016 and 2017 figures take into consideration the supplies of electricity from renewable production which does not generate emissions; the indirect emissions are calculated on the basis of the conversion factors relating to the gross thermoelectric production of each country published by Terna on its website (Source: Terna, 2015 international comparisons) and according to the Location Based approach.

(3) Wood and grate cleaning residues removed from the rivers represent a portion of the total waste produced. They are reported separately to point out the contribution given by the activities for the territory and the hydro-geological safety of river-beds.

(4) Transfer activities to the recycling facility started in May 2016.

    2017 2016 2015
Production GWh 2.453 2.693 2.632
ERG Power performance index (1)   63,2% 62,4% 61,8%
Energy consumption (primary sources) TEP 472.468 507.738 513.486
of which natural gas TEP 472.468 507.738 494.148
of which natural gas million m3 550.876 592.765 575.913
of which other primary sources TEP - - 19.339
Indirect energy consumption (2) GWh 1,6 1,6 1,7
Direct CO2 emissions(3) kt 1.130 1.216 1.230
Indirect CO2 emissions(2) kt 0.8 0.8 (4) 1,0
NO X emissions(3) t 364 394 386
CO emissions t 44 46 44
SF6 present in the electrical equipment kg 13.061 13.061 13.061
SF6 in stock kg 370 n/a n/a
SF6 top ups kg 16 5 n/a
equivalent to tons of CO2 t 376 117 n/a
F-GAS present in air conditioning systems kg 823 10 n/a
F-GAS top ups kg 132 n/a n/a
equivalent to tons of CO2 kg 220 n/a n/a
Thermoelectric CO2 index kt/GWheq 0,408 0,404 0,418
Thermoelectric NOX index t/GWheq 0,13 0,13 0,11
Thermoelectric CO index t/GWheq 0,016 0,015 0,015
Seawater withdrawals for plant cooling systems million m3 200 217 226
Well water withdrawals million m3 5 6 8
Water returned to the natural cycle % of withdrawals 97,1% 97,1% 96,8%
Cooling water returned to the natural cycle million m3 200 217 226
Water resource use index
demineralised water plant		 water produced/
inbound water		 63,8% 64,2% n/a
Waste produced t 2.079 3.715 1.856
of which sent to recycling % 65,3% n/a n/a
Waste hazardous produced t 291 351 121
of which sent to recycling t 110 n/a n/a
of which sent to recycling % 37,8% n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal t 181 n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal % 62,2% n/a n/a
Waste non-hazardous produced t 1.788 3.364 1.735
of which sent to recycling t 1.247 n/a n/a
of which sent to recycling % 69,7% n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal t 541 n/a n/a
of which sent to disposal t 30,3% n/a n/a

(1) Index of "1st principle overall performance" calculated in accordance with the procedures laid down by Ministerial decree of 5 september 2011 (CAR).

(2) The 2016 and 2017 figures take into consideration the supplies of electricity from renewable production which does not generate emissions; the indirect emissions are calculated on the basis of the conversion factors relating to the thermoelectric production of each country published by Terna on its website (Source: Terna, 2015 international comparisons) according to a Location Based approach.

(3) The figures relating to the atmospheric emissions are consistent with the annual data reported for the purposes of the E-PRTR Register and with the EU-ETS declarations.

(4) Value recalculated with respect to that indicated in the 2016 sustainability Report using the CO2 emission factor of each country and based on the gross thermoelectric production (Source: Terna, 2015 international comparisons).

Data and indicators
(from ERG 2017 Sustainability Report - Consolidated Non-Financial Reporting drawn up pursuant to Italian Leg. Decree 254/2016)