Rome – Dubai, December 6th, 2023 - The Enel Group attended the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. One of the issues addressed at COP28 was that of decarbonizing existing electrical systems and developing models for the future that are increasingly sustainable. Towards this aim, Enel once again reaffirmed its commitment to fighting climate change by implementing a number of initiatives promoted in collaboration with public and private players.
“Our attendance at COP28 is highly involved and committed,” said Gianni Vittorio Armani, Head of Enel Grids and Innovability at Enel. “The Enel Group is leading the way in decarbonizing electrical systems, as highlighted in its new Strategic Plan, in which we confirmed all decarbonization targets, especially the phase-out of coal-fired generation by 2027 and the ambition to achieve zero emissions in all scopes by 2040. COP28’s main focus on electric systems addresses topics that are of strategic importance to us, such as the sustainability of the generation mix, energy efficiency, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In fact, we are committed to developing an electricity sector based on generation that is fully sustainable from an environmental and economic standpoint, and in which smart grids as well as storage systems contribute to the successful management of intermittent flows from renewables. We are also aiming to enhance customer centricity by providing state-of-the-art electrification services as well as supplying energy. For these reasons, the projects and activities that we are taking part in at COP28 are of great strategic importance.”
As part of COP28, Enel, which has joined the Green Powered Future Mission (GPFM) initiative, attended the dedicated event “Mission Innovation Green Powered Future Mission: National pilot projects for net zero power systems”. GPFM is an international public-private cooperation involving the Italian government, under the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE, from the Italian “Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica”) and with the support of the public energy research company Ricerca Sul Sistema Energetico (RSE). GPFM is also part of Mission Innovation 2.0, a global multilateral cooperation initiative established in Paris during COP21, with the main goal of accelerating the innovation of clean technologies.
Specifically, the aim of GPFM is to prove that, by 2030, electrical systems will be able to effectively integrate intermittent renewables, such as wind and solar energy, into the generation mix while ensuring the economic efficiency, security and resilience of the system. Grids play a prominent role in the GPFM, which revolves around innovation in clean energy, system flexibility, and digitalization through innovative demonstration projects. To this end, Enel Grids and Innovability, the Enel Group’s business line dedicated to grids, innovation and sustainability, has helped define innovation priorities and share best practices, also by implementing pilot projects in Italy, Spain, Brazil and Colombia.
In order to meet the targets set by the GPFM, the MASE has allocated approximately 180 million euros in funding for the three-year period 2024-2026, out of a total amount of 502 million euros, to promote the research and development of innovative zero-emission energy technologies.
Through Enel Grids, the Enel Group also participates in the 3DEN initiative, launched by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the MASE, with the aim of accelerating the modernization of the energy system by drafting guidelines and implementing pilot projects.
The presentation of the “3DEN Initiative: implementing tomorrow’s smart power systems” was attended by representatives of MASE, IEA, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), and other companies that were awarded projects in order to exchange views on the policies and technologies required to make future energy systems smarter.
Enel was one of the utilities in the electricity sector which, during COP28, through the “UAE Declaration for Action” adhered to the “Utilities for Net Zero Alliance” (UNEZA), an initiative coordinated by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), supported by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and promoted by United Nations High-Level Climate Champions, influential people appointed by the United Nations to align the efforts of governments with the voluntary actions undertaken by cities, regions, companies and investors so as to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The aim of the initiative is to set up an international ecosystem for cooperation between utilities in order to break down barriers to achieving Net Zero targets and intermediate emission reduction targets.
Enel also took part in the panel “Energy Compacts: Advancing commitments towards SDG7 from Billions to Trillions” of SEforAll, an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations to advance Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) “Sustainable Energy for All”. The panel centered on the 1.3 trillion US dollars mobilized through Energy Compacts, which are voluntary commitments to achieve SDG7, and to which Enel itself has contributed with three Compacts: the Enel Group’s Energy Compact, the Energy Compact for the Electrification of Sardinia, and the Santiago Energy Compact.
The company also took part in the CEO Roundtable of AFID (Alliance for Industry Decarbonization) and in the dedicated “Renewables” Working Group led by Enel Green Power, Enel Group’s renewable energy subsidiary. AFID is an alliance coordinated by IRENA, aimed at boosting decarbonization efforts in order to meet global and national emissions reduction targets.
Also on this occasion, Endesa, the Spanish subsidiary of the Enel Group, was awarded the title of “Energy Transition Changemaker” in the Renewables category for its Just Transition project at the thermal power station in Andorra, Teruel, which is to be converted into a renewable energy hub, making it possible to develop business activities and generate employment in the area.