The E8 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment
Partnerships
EDF
As part of its energy saving commitment, EDF has established strong ties with the main participants in the value chain by:
- Working with contractors to install effective, energy-efficient processes in construction projects – heat pumps, solar energy for water heating, heat induction – which also respect the environment.
- Developing specific tools for certified electrical engineers such as guides on the choice of environmental systems, soft water for simulations included in project proposal, etc.
- Concluding agreements with different organisations such as French Public Agency- Ademe for the environment and energy management.
In April 2005, EDF and Ademe signed a new three-year partnership agreement aimed at energy-saving and the development of renewable energies. The agreement focuses on promoting energy efficiency in all sectors, with the support of suitable services and technologies. It provides for the implementation of incentives such as energy savings certificates in keeping with the future Energy Policy White Paper. EDF and Ademe will also contribute to the design of HQE certified buildings. Studies will evaluate the impact of energy efficiency measures and electricity generation on CO2 emissions. R&D will focus on new high performance technologies aimed at optimising consumption and electricity generation, especially renewable.
20 square meters’ in closed-circuit solar panels installed at the school Le Petit Prince at Mornant (38) in France, with the aide from Ademe and Total Energie in Europe
Hydro-Québec
Anticipate and minimize risks and vulnerabilities to climate change
Considering that climate change is likely occurring and the potential effects on Hydro-Québec’s activities, the company decided to improve its knowledge of climatic changes and trends in order to develop the means to adapt to them, and thus to limit the negative impacts or to take measures to benefit from them.
To reach this goal, Hydro-Québec created the OURANOS consortium in association with government and university partners. The consortium’s primary objective is to share the scientific and institutional know-how needed to anticipate climate change impacts and elaborate adaptation strategies. Important efforts are being paid to simulate accurate high resolution climate projections on 2050 horizon. These scenarios are analysed to estimate the upcoming electric load pattern and volume, the availability of water resources and the occurrences of extreme climatological events. The project is already producing interesting concrete results with respect to future electric demand and water availability.
e7 Group
In 2002, the e7/UNEP Electricity Sector Report identified the building of partnerships as a means by which to promote sustainable development. At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, the e7 signed partnership agreements with several United Nations specialised agencies and other institutions to facilitate its human capacity building and project development activities. The e7 is committed to action under these partnerships and several joint projects are currently being planned or have been completed, including
- e7-UN DESA Seminars on the Clean Development Mechanism:
In September 2004, the e7, together with UN DESA, hosted workshops on the Clean Development Mechanism in Nicaragua and Ecuador. The two workshops brought together over one hundred participants interested in learning about this market mechanism and e7 experience in developing these projects. - Joint e7-UNEP Rural Electrification Workshop:
Representatives from ten Southeast Asian countries participated in a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand from February 23-25, 2005 to help develop a cost-effective and streamlined process to facilitate public-private partnerships for rural electrification. Workshop material can be downloaded from the e7 web site (www.e7.org). A second workshop is currently being planned for Eastern Africa. - Joint e7-UN DESA Seminar on Electricity Interconnection:
Experts from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) joined e7 representatives in preparing an overview and general guidelines for electricity interconnection. The first seminar was held in Cairo, Egypt, from June 19-21, 2005 and brought together participants from 19 African countries.
Global environment and sustainable energy development
The e8, comprising ten leading electricity companies from the G8 countries, was formed in 1992 following the Rio Summit to examine and co-operate on major global electricity-related issues, with an emphasis on the global environment and sustainable energy development.