THEApulian Aqueduct has more than doubled la electricity production from renewable sources in 2020, with a +250%. Despite the health crisis, the AQP has guaranteed the quality and continuity of services while protecting its stakeholders with sustainability initiatives and a strong acceleration towards digitalisation.
Specifically, in 2020 the value of production rose to 600,5 million euro and the investment plan amounted to 172,8 million, while indirect benefits for the communities served reached a record high 2,3 billion euros. It is one of the main ones sustainability goals achieved in 2020 and consistent with the accession of the AQP to the UN Global Compact, the pact signed between the world's leading companies and the United Nations for the promotion of a sustainable global economy at an environmental, social, economic and cultural level.
The result was illustrated on Tuesday 6 July 2021 during the conference-show for the presentation of theIntegrated reporting 2020 "The people, the water. Our vision of prosperity”, organized at Villa Minnini in Bari. With 5 actors who played the honorary founders of the Apulian Aqueduct and talked about the evolution of the water service towards increasingly greener methods.
“Sustainability must touch all areas of a company's life and go beyond the environmental aspect to also embrace the social and cultural one. We wanted to give an innovative, emotional and informative cut to the presentation of the Report by appealing to the history of this company to illustrate the important results achieved in 2020 for the community. A joint result made possible also thanks to the synergy with the local area and in particular with our shareholder whom I thank for the support and trust”, explained Simeone of Cagno Abbrescia, President of Acquedotto Pugliese.
The report “People, water. Our vision of prosperity”, drawn up according to the guiding principles of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), is intended to describe the process of creating value on the basis of the sustainable development objectives defined by theUN 2030 Agenda, integrating economic-financial information with considerations on the 6 main capitals of each company: human, natural, infrastructural, financial, relational and intellectual capital. Furthermore, the document was drawn up with the support of a scientific committee of academics and experts selected with the LUMSA University of Rome.
Below are some of the most important results achieved by AQP. Currently, they are in operation altogether 5 photovoltaic systems, a sewage sludge biogas CHP station e 7 mini hydro plants (to which another 3 will be added by the end of 2021), for a total installed power of 2020 MW in 6.
At an environmental level, there is a saving in carbon emissions of approx 3 thousand tons of CO2 thanks in particular to the mini hydro power plants operating in Battaglia, Padula, Barletta, Monte Carfa, Corato, Andria and Gioia del Colle. Also worth mentioning are the actions on purification, in which over 66 million euros have been invested (+ 1,5% compared to 2019) which contribute to preserving the coastal and naturalistic resources of the Region, generating a benefit for the whole community.
Added to this is the commitment to reduce sludge and use it as a resource: they have been purchased 60 dehydration stations which will allow a 30% reduction in the long term also thanks to the use of highly sustainable drying technologies such as the 14 solar greenhouses being implemented, with 9 refining plants which already allow the reuse of purified water in agriculture.
Finally, all the quality and environmental certifications were confirmed, including that relating to Energy Management System for the entire production process (according to the Uni En Iso 50001:2018 standard).
