2023 was the hottest year since records began – meaning time is running out to deliver the changes needed to decarbonise our economy and society. The electricity sector has an essential role to play, both in eliminating carbon emissions and helping shape a more sustainable future in the communities and ecosystems where we operate.
Our ambition is set out in our Sustainability Leadership Plan published earlier this year: through electricity as an enabler of regeneration, we are driven to make a difference for planet, place and people.
Accurately capturing data on sustainability metrics across the business is essential to understand where we stand, where progress has been made, and where we need to focus our action going forward. Reporting on this data ensures we are open and transparent on all aspects of our operations and how they impact on the world around us.
Since 2011, we have published an annual sustainability report on a voluntary basis to communicate the progress of our sustainability actions and ambitions. And since 2012, the report has also been submitted for external independent review against the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
2024 starts the transition towards a new kind of integrated reporting under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). In the interim period, we will produce a data-centred version of the sustainability report in 2024 and 2025 focused on a data disclosures schedule including metrics, a GRI cross reference index and external review.
The 2023 Sustainability Data Disclosures report is now available to download, and provides detail on a range of metrics across the three pillars of our Sustainability Leadership Plan: Planet, Place, and People.
Sharon McManus, our Group Head of Sustainability, welcomed the publication of the 2023 report: “This year’s report is presented in the context of our Sustainability Leadership Plan. This plan highlights our ambitions and plans across three pillars including planet, place and people. By capturing data in these areas of focus, we can evaluate and share our progress, and identify opportunities for improvement and acceleration. As we work together to create a net zero energy future for the benefit of all, we are embedding sustainability across every fabric of our business in order to support restoration and regeneration in the communities and ecosystems where we operate.”
Protecting our Planet – the path to net zero
The planet pillar in our Sustainability Leadership Plan sets out our ambitions in addressing climate change, resource use and the circular economy – including our actions to reach net zero emissions across our operations by 2040.
Highlights from our 2023 data include:
- Overall we recorded a significant fall in emissions year-on-year in the Republic of Ireland (ROI), from 4,690,064 in 2022 to 3,328,010 in 2023 – due to a reduction in coal-fired generation coupled with strong renewable performance.
We are making good progress towards our low-carbon generation target of 140g CO2/KWh by 2030: dropping from 454g CO2/KWh in 2018 to 370 CO2/KWh in 2023.
We continue to expand our renewable energy generation capacity with 716MW onshore wind in ROI with two grid-scale solar projects under construction during the same year.
Place – a nature positive approach
The Place pillar of our Sustainability Leadership Plan centres on our commitment to enhancing biodiversity and ecosystems in the local communities where we operate.
Key points from the 2023 report include:
Our biodiversity data records the area of land we own or lease that is located in designated special areas of conservation, special protection areas, and natural heritage areas. In these regions of high biodiversity value, we have specified methods and procedures to minimise impacts on sites – in line with our aim to be nature positive by 2030.
We recorded a 36% reduction in water consumption year-on-year, largely driven by 34% drop in water demand from the Moneypoint generation station.
The report also captures data on waste generated by our operations. As part of our sustainability leadership commitments, we are building lifecycle investment into the tendering process and seeking more circular solutions to reduce impacts on resource use and waste generation.
People driving our progress
People are at the heart of our purpose, enabling us to thrive and meet our goals – from our employees across the business, to our customers, to workers throughout our supply chain.
Key takeaways from the 2023 data on this pillar include:
- Since announcing a three-year national recruitment campaign in May 2022, we have recruited more than 1,000 new people across multiple disciplines and levels.
- We meet the 3% employment target for people with disabilities as set out in the Disability Act 2005, and we are targeting an increase to 6% of our workforce by the end of 2025.
- In terms of support to our broader community, almost €1 million was allocated to the ESB Energy for Generations Fund, and a further €1 million to our Wind Farm Community Fund. Additionally, 1,923 employee volunteer hours were recorded in Ireland for 2023, and 368 employee volunteer hours by NIE Networks.
By capturing and reporting on data across these areas, we can evaluate and share our progress, and identify opportunities for improvement and acceleration.
Relevant links to download