The Group’s focus on energy efficiency is reflected by the ISO 50001 certification for energy management systems for seven companies of the Group: Hera Spa, AcegasApsAmga, Marche Multiservizi, Hera Servizi Energia (now AcegasApsAmga Servizi Energetici Spa), Sinergie and Hera Luce. In addition, Herambiente has achieved ISO 50001 certification for some of its plants.

The energy improvement plans of Hera Spa, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi drawn up since 2014 as part of their energy management systems, envisaged achieving the aim to reduce energy consumption by 3% (compared to 2013 consumption) within 2017. Based on the positive results obtained, corresponding to a 3.6% reduction at the end of 2017, this target was increased to 5% by 2020.

The objective is calculated as the average of the objectives that Hera Spa, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi have defined as part of their certification schemes. In particular, the objectives of Hera Spa and Marche Multiservizi are calculated using their 2013 consumption as baseline while AcegasApsAmga considers the average of 2013-2014 consumption.

Significant energy saving has presently been achieved in the water cycle, both as regards purification and potable water treatment. Important upgrading of efficiency has also been reached as regards district heating, where the measures mainly concern the optimisation of sources and effective utilisation of the most virtuous systems.

The data refer to Hera Spa, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi.

The 170 measures implemented by the end of 2017 saved over 8 thousand toe, equal to 3.6% of 2013 consumption, widely exceeding the target set for 2017. The 226 measures identified and that as at 31 December 2017 are included in the improvement plans of Hera Spa, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi will reduce energy consumption by over 10 thousand toe, equal to 87% of the target set for 2020.

The measures identified in the action plan are mainly focused on the water cycle where measures are planned amounting to 51% of energy saving.

In addition to the initiatives of the Energy Improvement Plan, we must also consider 66 more energy efficiency measures implemented, in progress or planned (26 of which have already been completed) by Herambiente, Hera Servizi Energia and Hera Luce on waste disposal plants, condominiums or other buildings, and public lighting. These measures will save 6,302 annual toe (1,814 of which already achieved).

The White Certificate obligations to be cancelled have dropped due to Italian Ministerial Decree of 11 January 2017, which, in defining the energy efficiency targets for the period 2017/20, deeply changed the system, removing among other things the “durability coefficient” (tau). The new practices will therefore generate a lower number of certificates, for a longer period. This results in remodulating the reduction targets starting from 2017.

To contribute to the aforementioned obligations, the activities to procure White Certificates through energy efficiency initiatives at Group or partner company plants continued throughout 2017.

In 2017, Hera S.p.A. presented the Energy Services Manager with 6 energy efficiency metered baseline projects, as well as 3 activities with analytical or standard savings assessment sheets. All of these measures were developed in areas served by the Group.

The measures for increasing energy efficiency using White Certificates and involving Hera Group’s plants include efficiency improvements for treatment plants, the implementation of innovative solutions for public lighting and decompression of natural gas. The projects developed in collaboration with companies belonging to the food sector are also particularly interesting. Many energy efficiency initiatives are also carried out with client companies/partners, to whom the Group offers its know-how: seven new agreements were signed with trade associations and local companies in 2017.

Hera’s energy efficiency promotion activities continue both inside and outside the Group, on the one hand, by implementing and improving the ISO 50001 certified Energy Management System and, on the other, by taking part in events and conferences addressing the industrial sector.

To confirm the Group’s commitment in this area, the report published in 2015 “Value for energy”, entirely dedicated to energy efficiency and extended in 2016 to AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi, was submitted for the first time in 2017 to Dnv-Gl for third-party auditing.