For Endesa, energy efficiency means transforming and using energy in the most intelligent and optimum way possible throughout its value chain while maintaining the same quality of the services it offers its customers. It is one of the most important drivers to improve the security and quality of supply, competition, and, in short, position Endesa in a new energy model which is less reliant on foreign sources.
Endesa has cut CO2 emissions at its power facilities by more than 13 million tonnes since 2005, thanks to a range of initiatives the company has implemented in its generation plants and distribution networks.
A total of Euro 115 million has been invested in the Energy Efficiency Plan which helps save 63 kTOE and 250 kton of CO2 a year. This is in addition to the Euro 1.32 billion invested in 2005-2009 which generated savings of 2,195 kTOE and 13.3 Mton of CO2. This plan is included in Endesa’s 2008-2012 Sustainability Plan through which Endesa endeavours to meet the 20-20-20 targets.
Endesa – an energy transformation company
Efficiency improvements made in the generation business directly impact the consumption of primary energy and help slash CO2 emissions as a high percentage of fossil fuels are used to produce electricity.
The main action areas in Spain and Latin America are:
- Replacing fuel-gas groups for combined cycle groups at our Colón, Besós and San Adriá plants.
- Improving the efficiency of our coal-fired plants, modernising high and medium pressure turbines.
- Changing over to biofuels at the Son Reus II and Ca’s Tresorer I gas turbines.
- Repowering hydro plants in Latin America and Spain (Mequinenza)
- The Thermal Generation Operational Efficiency Programme in Latin America has resulted in greater efficiency at plants.
- Extending and improving the flow forecasting system in all of Endesa’s strategic river basins.
Endesa – an energy distribution company
As a distribution company, Endesa can help energy efficiency both internally, by reducing losses on its grids and developing smart grids, and externally, by being a vehicle to facilitate energy savings and efficiency programmes in the generation sectors and among end consumers.
Measures to improve energy efficiency
- Reducing distribution losses. By rolling out loss management initiatives, Endesa has consistently managed to reduce losses since 2004. This has resulted in 1,618 GWh of energy saved over five years compared to the 2003 baseline. Electricity losses in Latin America have also fallen notably over the same period.
- Efficient networks. The ICONO project aims to automate, assist and improve the work of network operators with elements that forecast network conditions and provide control measures in order to guarantee grid stability and security.
- INTEGRIS European project. Endesa leads this project to develop ICT infrastructure for smart grids that allow for the integration and interoperability of power line communication (PLC) and wireless communication technologies.
- S2G project. The aim of this project is to design and put into service an advanced power distribution monitoring, tracking and maintenance system from substations to transformer centres.
- Project CENIT DENISE (Intelligent, Safe and Efficient Electricity Distribution). This consortium is led by Endesa to research and develop technologies and information systems that meet the energy distribution requirements of emerging societies and applications which demand a new generation of energy generation and distribution.
- Remote Management. This project aims to define, specify, develop and roll out a system for the automatic, remote control and management of electricity supply to domestic customers, gradually replacing more than 10 million household meters. This uses the remote management solution developed jointly by Endesa and Enel, and has been adapted to Spanish regulation.
Remote Management
- NOVARE ENERGRID project. This entails demonstrating the viability and advantages of a system of smart, distributed infrastructures to manage the supply and demand of power grids enabling the company to manage energy output and consumption through small nodes (homes, buildings, companies) creating a decentralised electricity generation and consumption system. The ENERGRID project aims to improve energy management in buildings through dialogue between consumers and the energy generation companies themselves and the user. This is done using a new technological layer using distributed (or grid) computing on top of the traditional distribution grid.
- Smartcity Málaga project. SmartCity is a project which develops and showcases the key concepts of a new energy model which are necessary to meet the 20-20-20 targets. The project is based around a smart grid structure integrating other concepts such as energy storage, smart energy management in buildings, the distribution of mostly renewable energy and sustainable mobility using electric vehicles and a recharging infrastructure. This project therefore:
- Directly tackles the main problems facing today’s society.
- Places Endesa at the forefront of the global stage by showcasing our technologies on the ground.
- Allows us to gain experience and acquire new aptitudes which will encourage the need for further research and development.
Málaga SmartCity: sustainable model for future cities
Málaga SmartCity
- Voltage changes at Chilectra. The voltage of over 100 km of the grid has been raised from 12kV to 23 kV, with nearly 200 distribution transformers being upgraded.
Endesa – an energy supply company
Endesa Energía, Endesa’s energy supply company in Spain, has always been committed to energy efficiency. With this in mind it launched the PE3 in 2008 focusing on three key objectives:
Collaboration with public bodies
For example, our recent collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce whereby all our customers received a voucher exchangeable for low-energy light bulbs along with their bills (8 million vouchers in 2009 and 8.9 vouchers in 2010).
Initiatives aimed at marketing energy efficiency products and services
- Photovoltaic solar energy.
- Solar thermal energy: turnkey facilities in the industrial and services sectors, new builds and homes.
- Integrated energy management and cogeneration: investment in equipment and sales to end energy consumers (hot/cold/steam).
- Reactive energy compensation.
- Ilumina Plan for retailers: offering customers a proposal based on savings (of up to 80%), high-quality lighting, a seal of excellence and credit facilities.
- Promoting energy efficiency in Portugal: replacing conventional light bulbs with LED lights and correcting reactive power supplies by using condenser batteries resulting in annual savings of 3.2 GWh.
Developing a Communication Plan
- Electricity queries and energy advice accessible via call centres (50,000 calls / year) or online www.endesaonline.com.
Endesa Online
- Launch of Twenergy, the online platform www.twenergy.com, offering useful and straightforward advice on how to use energy efficiently. It also sets “efficiency challenges”, with users being awarded for participating in and meeting those challenges. They are awarded points which are exchangeable for gifts or donations to charities whereby individual actions eventually benefit the entire community
Twenergy
Endesa Group companies in Latin America have also launched their own initiatives.
Energy efficiency measures in Latin America
Edesur (Argentina)
- Efficient lighting programme aimed at saving energy by replacing incandescent lights with low-energy models. Thanks to this programme, the country now has 300% more low-energy lights.
- Courses, workshops and conferences on efficient lighting for 850,000 people which have raised efficient lighting awareness from 47% to 93%.
In Argentina, CO2 emissions have fallen by 8.1 million tonnes in 10 years.
Ampla (Brazil)
Some 0.5% of the company’s net income is earmarked for energy efficiency projects for customers on low incomes and public institutions.
- Inefficient lights and refrigerators have been replaced with more efficient ones.
- Energy studies in hospitals and other institutions to implement energy efficiency improvements and reduce energy use during peak times. Ampla’s awareness blog www.ampla.com/conscienciaampla is another way the company disseminates information.
Ampla
Coelce (Brazil)
Some 0.5% of the company’s net income is earmarked for energy efficiency projects for customers on low incomes and public institutions.
Environmental projects
- Replacing old refrigerators with new, more efficient ones in low income communities.
- Energy efficiency projects in 22 hospitals entailing investment of reais 9.5 million.
- Ecoelce project, recycling waste in exchange for discounts on electricity bills.
Social projects
- Luz Solidaria. Customers are rewarded for buying more efficient white goods.
- Escola Coelce. Caminos Eficientes. This initiative aims to raise energy awareness in the local society.
Chilectra (Chile)
Chilectra’s energy efficiency plan takes a three-pronged approach: education, dissemination, and customers and innovation.
Education - focusing on university and school-age students with help from the Chilectra Activa Foundation.
Dissemination - Chilectra has been active in various advertising campaigns including the 2008 campaign starring “Chispita” who gave advice during TV ads and starred in the country’s well-known children’s series “31 minutos” in 2009.
Customers - Chilectra offers its customers solutions to their various needs, such as:
- Full Electric, a successful concept for real estate projects which meets all customers’ energy needs while still using electricity efficiently.
- Energy advice for industrial customers.
- Solar Electric, a solution which combines solar energy and electricity to provide hot water and heating thereby helping energy efficiency.
Codensa (Colombia)
Codensa currently runs various plans:
- Schemes to replace lights, incandescent light bulbs and refrigerators in the residential sector.
- Launch of Codensa’s website offering an energy consumption calculator.
Codensa
- Energy efficient services: energy audits, lighting solutions and security and control systems.
The Codensa Consciente programme is beginning to bear fruit, with lower energy and water consumption as well as increased recycling of office material.
Edelnor (Peru)
Edelnor has developed various plans to encourage energy efficiency among customers:
- Replacing low efficiency lighting, mainly in low income households.
- Innovation project to assess the most appropriate electric value for capacitors for low voltage supplies. Losses were reduced by around 1%.
- Meetings with different sectors such as industry, retail, leisure, institutions and farmers, among others, to advise on energy efficiency.
Endesa as an energy consumer
Endesa is also a major consumer of final energy, which is used in its production processes, by its 25,000 employees and to supply over 25 million customers. This consumption is mostly at its buildings and tertiary-sector facilities.
The main initiatives rolled out at the company’s buildings are:
- Energy efficiency measures at the Madrid headquarters resulting in a 25% reduction in energy consumption a year over the past five years.
- The company’s new buildings in Palma de Mallorca and Salt (Girona) have been awarded a B-class building energy rating. Both have cut energy demand by 50% and CO2 emissions by over 48% compared to other similar buildings.
- Espacio project to rationalise office space at all Endesa’s buildings and cut energy consumption by up to 17%.