“Effective solutions.” En+ reported its successes towards becoming carbon neutral En+ explained how it plans to reach zero carbon footprint 11.27.2024, 20:14

En+, the Russian energy and metallurgical holding company and the world’s leading producer of low-carbon aluminum and renewable electricity, has published its third report on the Company’s achievements towards carbon neutrality by 2050. The document was discussed by analysts, experts and investors as part of the Climate Partnership business breakfast. En+’s event was attended by Sustainable Development Director Irina Bakhtina, Capital Markets and Financial Products Director Elena Ivanova, Climate Risk Department Director Alexey Spirin and Rusal’s official representative in charge of foreign relations Sergei Chestnoy.

At the beginning of the event, En+ Sustainable Development Director Irina Bakhtina emphasized that the holding was one of the first companies in Russia to set targets for achieving carbon neutrality and continues to move towards achieving this goal, despite external difficulties and negativities. restrictions, as well as the increasingly evident proliferation of international standards.

“We must constantly seek new and effective solutions to our challenges in reducing climate impact, adapting to climate change and ensuring sustainable business development in general. In our conditions, such solutions cannot be borrowed from compilations of “best corporate practices”. It means that we are in good shape, as our efforts are reflected in the high ratings given to the holding by national and international organizations,” Bakhtina emphasized.

Commitment to strategy

Now En+ continues to work within the framework of previously announced strategic plans to achieve carbon neutrality; In particular, it is necessary to achieve the intermediate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2035. By the end of 2024, 80% of the holding’s portfolio will consist of low-carbon energy sources. Priority areas for decarbonization of the energy segment are the introduction of energy-saving technologies, the construction of new production facilities (hydro and wind power plants) and the modernization of hydroelectric power plants operated within the framework of the New Energy program.

This list also includes expanding the use of vehicles designed to provide Russian industrial enterprises with access to green energy. These include green certificates, for which En+ ranked first in the Russian market in terms of sales last year.

“En+ has made a significant and decisive contribution to the development of the local certification system for green energy qualifications. “Other countries of the world should know that such a system has been developed in the Russian market, works and fully complies with international standards,” he said. Oleg Barkin, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NP Market Council Association.

Climate risks

The expert community also highly appreciated En+’s analysis of climate risks that may affect the water content of Siberian rivers in the future until 2100 and the list of measures developed on the basis of this study for adaptation to climate change. The importance of hydroelectric energy in terms of adaptation to climate change was especially emphasized by Vadim Petrov, Chairman of the Roshidromet Public Council and Deputy Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Ecology.

“Today, hydropower is becoming a tool for adaptation to climate change, as hydraulic structures ensure the safety of critical infrastructures of cities in “high water” conditions. Hydraulic structures such as HPP En+ not only ensure sustainable production, but also protect the infrastructure from climate risks. “This is a strategically important contribution to climate security,” he said.

Metallurgy segment

The path to carbon neutrality also applies to the metallurgical division of the holding. The report concludes that aluminum smelters will switch to prebaked anode technology, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy-saving technologies will be introduced at the alumina division’s enterprises, which will allow the use of the latest approaches to capturing greenhouse gases.

“In the context of creating a global system in which Russian enterprises should be integrated to track products according to their carbon footprint, the unique experience of En+ Group and its metallurgical enterprise Rusal is important in bringing “green” aluminum products to Turkey. “The market is understandable, manageable, transparent, with a comfortable carbon footprint,” added Vsevolod Gavrilov, director of Sberbank’s project management directorate in the field of energy saving and environmental management.