EURELECTRIC - Sixth Energy Wisdom Programme Showcases 150 Energy-Efficient Projects
Electricity companies participating in the latest edition of EURELECTRIC’s Energy Wisdom Programme (EWP) have reduced emissions by about 99 Mt CO2 eq. and saved over 24 Mtoe in primary fuel. Over 150 projects from 11 European countries were reported in the EWP’s sixth cycle, covering 2010 and 2011. In addition to CO2 emissions reductions and energy savings, other major co-benefits included air quality improvements, waste reduction and increased employment. “The latest Energy Wisdom Programme report reaffirms electricity companies’ long-standing commitment to energy efficiency and emission reductions, in line with our sector’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. In addition to reporting on their own efficiency improvements, participating companies also show how they reach out to their customers – a total of over 90 million in 2011. Customers will have a crucial role to play in a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy, and that is why energy advisory services are now part of our companies’ daily operations,” commented EURELECTRIC Secretary General Hans ten Berge.The full EWP report, published today, highlights one or two particularly innovative projects for each of the 16 participating companies. Projects include advances in cleaner power generation technologies like offshore and onshore wind, solar energy, biomass, and carbon capture and storage. Companies are also improving power plant efficiency and investing in modern technology like smart grids and smart metering systems. At the same time, the EWP report shows how electricity companies are promoting energy efficiency and emissions reductions among their customers: reported projects include energy-efficient retrofit measures in homes, the building of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and even support for energy-efficient cloud computing.EURELECTRIC’s Energy Wisdom Programme is a voluntary reporting and monitoring initiative that showcases the innovative ways in which electricity companies reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency. In the context of the EU’s 2020 energy-climate objectives and the industry’s goal of moving towards a carbon-neutral power supply by 2050, the EWP initiative encourages the dissemination of best practices and enhances companies’ accountability. Since the programme’s inception in 1998, participating companies have saved over 730 Mt CO2 eq. in more than 600 projects across Europe.