Y.E.S. ‘You Empower Society’ – EDP’s leading social responsibility programme
EDP is a global energy company operating across the energy sector’s value chain that contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and invests more than €30 M per year in social responsibility programmes around the world. From Europe, to LATAM, North America, Africa, and APAC, we develop more than 500 social projects with a strong focus on leaving no one behind in the energy transition. Here are some of these programmes:
1. Solar Energy Projects – implementation of solar panels to bring the benefits of solar (in self-consumption or solar communities) in schools, rural or disadvantaged communities or social organisation all over the world. We have implemented more than 1,700 solar panels impacting more than 6,300 people and avoiding the emission of 220 tonnes of CO2 (some countries where this has been developed: Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Greece, North America). SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
2. Fight Energy Poverty Projects: Offering energy-saving and efficient housing solutions to low-income families (thermal insulation, windows, doors, more efficient equipment, so that they can maintain their homes in an adequate temperature (and prevent several diseases) (some countries where this has been developed: Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Romania). SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
3. Green Impact Investment & Financial Support: Impact investment fund and capital donations to support local fair energy transition businesses such as:
- A2E Fund: a fund to support renewable energy projects that promote the environmental, social and economic development of rural communities in developing countries. With five editions underway, EDP received over 730 applications and selected 38 projects in Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola and Rwanda, investing €3.5M; SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
- EDP Solidarity Energy: a fund from the three foundations in Portugal, Spain and Brazil that supports innovative, sustainable and impactful projects that contribute to a fairer, more inclusive and socially responsible society, through non-refundable donations. It targets conversion to renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric mobility. SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy; SDG 9: Infrastructure and industrialisation
- Hope Fund: a fund that will invest in social purpose organisations with a sustainable business model, that address all types of FET challenges, with innovative impact solutions in Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Chile. This investment aims for total/partial capital recovery while traditional philanthropy assumes complete loss of capital from the onset. SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
4. Upskilling and Reskilling Projects: Development of projects within the scope of renewable energy, to meet future labour needs and guarantee that former coal workers, people living in communities close to EDP’s production centers and other minorities have job opportunities (some countries where this has been developed: Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Italy). SDG 4: Quality education
5. Educational Projects: Promotion of Educational Programmes for the new generations (from 6 to 16 Ys) to understand the importance of clean energy sources (some countries where this has been developed: Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Poland). SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 13 Climate action
6. Environmental Sustainability projects: several projects that address ocean or forest cleanup, species protection or others. Some examples are underwater cleaning in Portugal (beating a world Guinness record with the higher number of divers in 12 hours) that as also occurred in Spain and Singapore or the Re.Earth Project, a pilot project launched in Portugal to create a local circular economy based on the light biomass that the proprieties hold. Small owners clean their lands with the possibility of selling the “trash” (agroforestry residues). EDP then uses that biomass to create green energy and warm up social facilities. SDG 14: Life below water; SDG 15 Life on land
EDP’s ‘You Empower Society’ (Y.E.S.) is a brand that identifies all our social projects worldwide. We believe it is an enabler of a positive culture towards an even more positive impact on multiple sectors of society where EDP operates. Find out more about our programmes.
– EDP