An increasingly green company, which distributes resources that now exceed one billion and 700 million euros a year throughout the territory. This is what emerges from Hera's 2012 Sustainability Report, online from today at the address bs.gruppohera.it. In addition to reporting on the year that has just ended, the document also offers a "social", "environmental" and "economic" summary of the first 10 years of the multi-utility's life, demonstrating with numbers the concrete commitment to improving the quality of life in the territories served. In ten years, for example, the thermal and electrical energy produced from renewable sources has increased fivefold, separate waste collection has doubled, the use of landfills has halved, emissions from waste-to-energy plants have been reduced by 70% and % accidents at work.
Ten years of activity for the sustainability of the territory: 70% renewable and assimilated energies
Among the most important environmental results achieved is the production of energy from renewable sources (waste-to-energy, only for the biodegradable part of waste; biomass power plants; landfill biogas; anaerobic digestion and purification; photovoltaic plants and geothermal energy), which in 2012 was equal to 560 GWh. An increase compared to the 552 GWh of 2011 and fivefold compared to the 101 GWh of 2003. More than 70% of the Group's total production comes from renewable sources, added to assimilated sources, equal to the energy needs of 389.000 families.
Occupational safety: frequency index further decreasing
The accident frequency index decreased for the eighth consecutive year (-23% compared to 2010). The total number of accidents at Hera SpA went from 215 in 2010 to 154 in 2012. 85% of the Group's jobs work in companies with OHSAS 18001 certification.
Emissions from waste-to-energy plants 89% lower than legal limits
Furthermore, with a multi-year plan to modernize the waste-to-energy plants which has seen the application of the best available technologies, the emissions into the atmosphere of these plants have been significantly reduced and are equal on average to 11% of the legal limits against 43% in 2005: this means which today are on average 89% lower than the levels permitted by law.
Customer facilitation policies
In relation to the difficult economic situation, Hera has extended by another year the concessions envisaged until June 2012 for unemployed and laid-off customers. Furthermore, in 2012, for the third year, Hera voluntarily introduced a bonus to offset the cost of the district heating service to be awarded in the same way as the offsetting of the cost of the gas and electricity services is allocated.
Waste treatment: more and more recovery and landfills halved
A litmus test of the environmental quality expressed by Hera concerns the waste treatment mix. In 2002 about half of the waste collected (49%) ended up in landfills and therefore to a use completely unable to extract value and with a strong environmental impact. In 2012, thanks to the development of the plant base at the service of recovery and the services agreed with the municipal administrations, the waste sent to landfills dropped to 21%. A much lower figure not only than Italy (49%), but also the average of European countries (37%). The rest, on the other hand, is sent for recovery: either "of matter", through separate waste collection (in 2012 it rose to almost 52%) or "energy", through waste-to-energy (2012% in 29).
The overall economic impact of 2012: 1,7 billion euros
The economic impact of the Hera Group on the area served has grown further. In 2012, in fact, the total wealth distributed throughout the country exceeded one billion and 700 million (+2,6% compared to the previous year). The figure includes the added value, almost 849 million, distributed to Hera's main interlocutors in the area (workers, shareholders, public administration, local community, company). Of these, 70 went to public and private shareholders as profits, while 137 were paid to local authorities as taxes, fees and royalties. Added to the added value distributed are 850 million in supplies from local operators, which represent a significant contribution to the local economic fabric, even more important considering the difficult economic context that families and businesses are facing. The total added value distributed to all stakeholders amounted to 1.075,6 million euros (+3,2% compared to 2011 and has continued to grow from 2002 to today).
Considering Hera's entire life, from 2002 to today, the total added value distributed amounts to 8,7 billion euro. The impact on employment is also very important. People employed indirectly thanks to Group supplies are estimated at 4.233 units: 10.682 total direct and indirect employment.
3,5 billion euros invested in 10 years: a third dedicated to the water cycle
An important chapter is undoubtedly that of Hera's investments, which from 2003 to 2012 amounted to a total of 3,5 billion euro, on average over 318 million a year, against 177 in 2002. A third of these were destined for the cycle integrated water. In this sector, in 2011 Hera was well above the average of the investments made by the top 10 Italian multi-utility companies; in particular, it invested 397 euros for every 1.000 cubic meters of billed water compared to the average of 339 euros.
Chiarini: "almost 9 billion distributed since 2002, a significant counter-cyclical contribution"
“The data published, which does not only concern 2012, but offers an overview of the results not only economically achieved by Hera in 10 years of activity”, explains Maurizio Chiarini, Hera's Chief Executive Officer, “demonstrate unequivocally that having created, with the merger of various ex-municipalized companies with a larger and more solid subject has not only improved the social and environmental sustainability of the area served but has also achieved an absolutely consistent distribution of resources in terms of added value in the area. Especially in light of the economic crisis of recent years, I believe this is an extraordinary anti-cyclical contribution to the economy and to the quality of life of the communities. These numbers therefore confirm, once again, the validity of the Hera model, capable of combining economic growth and quality of services in the area".
