The EDF group saw a record fall in its CO2 emissions in 2011, with 99.6g of CO2 per kWh produced, equivalent to a reduction of 11% compared to 2010.
For the first time, the Group has fallen below the threshold of 100g/kWh for all of its electricity production facilities combined. In France, the fall is even more impressive, with a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions in just one year: EDF’s CO2 emissions fell to 30.4g/kWh, in no small part due to its carbon-free production plants (nuclear, hydraulic etc.).
Thanks to an active sustainable development policy that is an integral part of the industrial strategy on a Group level in France and around the world, these results mean that the company is an energy supplier with one of the lowest levels of CO2 emissions in Europe.
In France, EDF is focusing on a number of areas, including improving operating performance (replacing coal-fired plants with combined cycle gas or combustion turbines), the development of renewable energies, the optimisation of the potential for hydraulic power and the consolidation of measures to control greenhouse gas emissions, during maintenance work on the distribution network for example.
The Group has set ambitious targets for itself for 2020, including halving emissions from its production plants and taking measures to reduce the total volume by 30%. “These great results in our fight against CO2 emissions have been made possible thanks to the long-term commitment of all of our departments across the Group. They have been able to see it as an industrial advantage that makes us stand out from the competition.” observes Claude Nahon, sustainable development director for the EDF group.
