Milan, 26th of March 2020 - A2A has chosen to make its decarbonisation objectives more ambitious, aligning itself with the 2°C trajectory defined by the COP21 (2015 Paris Climate Agreement) over the next decade.
A2A’s decarbonisation plan includes, by 2030, a 46% reduction of direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope1) per kilowatt-hour produced, as compared to 2017 (emission factor in 2030 equal to 230 gCO2/kW¬h). The objective is based on the development of new renewable installed capacity, equal to at least 1.6 GW in 2030, on the optimisation of combined cycle gas turbines, on the phase-out from coal and heavy oil fuel, making a reconversion of those conventional power plants.
As part of this commitment, it will also set the 100% reduction of the Scope2 emissions by 2024, and a decrease of 20% Scope3 indirect emissions by 2030, related to the purchase of fuels for its own systems and the sale of gas to end clients.
The new target was analysed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – an initiative born from the collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - to validate whether companies’ decarbonisation targets are in line with the Paris Agreement (COP21). The SBTi was created specifically for the purpose of helping companies to define ambitious objectives aimed at mitigating climate change, in order to guarantee that their strategies are line with scientific objectives.
A2A is the first multi-utility in Italy to obtain validation of the emissions target by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
In March, A2A’s emission reduction targets were, in fact, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, as being consistent with scientific climate evidence, and in line with the reduction required in order to keep global warming levels below 2°C with respect to the pre-industrial era.
As of today 343 companies around the world have obtained validation of their targets from SBTi, of which only three in Italy.
For the Group, this is a great result, particularly relevant in the path of sustainability undertaken in 2016 with the definition of the Policy and the Sustainability Plan.
In the past three years, A2A has already reduced its CO2 emission factor per kilowatt-hour (net heat and electricity production) by 19%, thanks to a development strategy in its renewable energy sources (+100 Megawatt of photovoltaic installed capacity for the two-year period from 2018-19) and the progressive reduction in its quota of carbon and fuel oil (10% of the mix in 2019).
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Objective 2030 | |
SBT Emission Factor (gCO2/kWh) | 425 | 384 | 345 | 230 |
Of particular significance is the agreement signed in 2019 with the Talesun Group for the development of new photovoltaic projects, for a total capacity of 1 Gigawatt. During this energy transition phase, A2A is committed to providing support to the stability and safety of the national electricity grid, through investments aimed at: increasing the flexibility and power of its combined cycle gas turbines; participating in the capacity payment market (5 Gigawatts won in December at Terna’s second auction); building two synchronous condensers, at the Brindisi Thermoelectric Power Station, capable of ensuring automatic and steady voltage to the national transmission network.
A2A Media Relations
Giuseppe Mariano
Tel. 02 7720.4583
ufficiostampa@a2a.eu
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