Why create a label for renewable energies?
Urgent action is needed! As the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report reminded us in spring 2022, it is essential that action is taken now to keep the temperature increase within an acceptable limit. In this context, renewable energies are a source of hope. As France’s leading producer of onshore wind and solar power, ENGIE wants to accelerate the development of renewable energies, aiming for an installed capacity of 80 GW in 2030, compared with the current 38 GW. The SET label for a sustainable energy transition was created for this purpose. It aims to demonstrate, with total transparency manner, that the renewable energy projects implemented by ENGIE are both rigorous and sustainable, to encourage the acceptance and appropriation of these projects by as many people as possible: residents, citizens, associations and local authorities.
What does this label for renewable energies apply to?
Audited by independent experts from Bureau Veritas, SET certifies the method that our teams used by on a daily basis to develop onshore wind and solar projects, whichare integrated into their local environment, respect nature and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To achieve this, they apply a strict reference system comprising nine commitments covering three main themes: territories, nature and climate. (See details below.) These 9 commitments are the foundations of our method, which guarantees the following, in particular:
- Involving stakeholders in the projects
- Preserving nature around the installations
- Optimising the projects’ contribution to the fight against climate change
The countries awarded the label apply these principles systematically, from the design to the dismantling of onshore wind or solar projects.
How is this label for renewable energies actually applied in practice?
Since its creation in 2022, we have worked to ensure that SET can be a benchmark for all of our geographies developing, building and operating onshore wind and solar projects. So far, 7 of our countries have been audited and certified: France, Belgium, Chile, Spain, Italy, United States and Canada. Other countries will follow in the coming months and years.
In practice, Bureau Veritas auditors intervene several times in the certification process: during the initial audit, then during two confirmation audits, one and two years after the initial audit. In this way, the independent experts ensure a precise and demanding follow-up to verify that the criteria of the label are being met in the long term.
The SET label is a real guarantee of quality for our public, associative and private stakeholders, and testifies to the expertise of our employees and their commitment alongside all local stakeholders.
A step towards an ever more sustainable energy transition.
