Celsia

Environmental Dimension

Our commitment to environmental management responds to the challenges of the contemporary world: climate change, eco-efficiency , biodiversity and environmental care. We execute it with proactive , participatory and inclusive strategies.

Environmental management system

Our Environmental Management System is certified with ISO 14001 version 2004 and 2015. Click for know the certificates.

Due Diligence processes are developed by the financial, legal and socio-environmental teams of the organization. Know the guide here..

In the following link you can find the Environmental Impact Studies of each or our plants in Colombia, Panamá y Costa Rica. See here. 

We present our management in the following topics:

Celsia uses and transforms renewable and non-renewable natural resources, and as a result, it is subject to threats and opportunities related to their availability, amounts and timing. We are therefore highly aware of our role in climate change management. At Celsia, we understand that no one can predict the consequences of climate change with absolute certainty at this time, but we know enough to grasp and deal with the risks involved, and explore opportunities in generating value.

Carbon footprint

Celsia presents the inventories of Greenhouse Gases and the certificates of external verification:

Since 2015 the Company has been reporting on the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Know these reports below:

These reports and their results are available on the CDP website.

Risks

The organization has identified some of the most important risks associated with climate change that must be studied in upcoming years because of the effect they could come to have on the business:

  • Decrease or total loss of energy generation capacity.
  • Reduction in the capacity of hydroelectric power plants.
  • Denial of permits for the construction of new power plants.
  • Political and social instability.

Possible effects of climate change in the sector that would impact Celsia:

Water:

  • Restrictions in the water flows that are given or renewed.
  • Shorter, more intense droughts or floods.
  • Reduced water quality in the reservoirs.
  • Possible changes in regulation aimed at multi-purpose reservoirs.

Thermal:

  • Reduction of the available water resource.
  • Temperature problems in the cooling units.
  • Water quality problems for steam and cooling.
  • Decrease in power due to increased ambient temperature.
  • Greater restrictions in energy intensity.
  • Opposition by stakeholders to thermal energy projects.

Wind:

  • Increased wind due to global convection.

With respect to the management of emissions of the thermal power plants, these have the latest combustion turbines, with the best technologies in the world, which have emission control systems installed such as water injection, steam injection and Dry Low NOx burners, to guarantee the control of atmospheric emissions, compliance with environmental regulations and the requirements of the World Bank. In addition, monitoring is undertaken through isokinetic and air quality studies, the results of which are always below the limits established by Colombian legislation.

In Integrated Report 2019 you can find our Change Climate management.

It is essential for the Company to prevent, mitigate and reduce the environmental impact of the business. Therefore, we implement good practices to manage discharge water, energy and waste, complying with current legislation and international practices. We also develop strategies so that our stakeholders use natural resources efficiently.

In Integrated Report 2019 you can find our ecoefficiency management and the indicators associated with energy consumption, water, waste generation and landfills.

We operate in ecosystems that include mangroves, cloud forests, high plains grasslands, high Andean forests and rainforests; areas that because of their high biodiversity value and wealth must be protected to ensure the sustainability of the land and, consequently, of the Organization, which uses these ecosystems.

Find here the commitment of Celsia with Biodiversity

Find here the Biodiversity chapter of the Integrated Report 2019

Find here the Agreement Epsa (Today Celsia Colombia) – Icesi University for studies of Biodiversity

Find here the progress of the ReverdeC Program in relation to Biodiversity

Species found in our areas of operation

Through the biodiversity component of our Environmental Policy, we confirm our commitment to promote environmental awareness, conservation and recovery, as well as enrichment of the policy, for which we form partnerships with public, private and community entities with sustainability criteria.

The main risks and potential impacts on biodiversity that may occur in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy businesses in the construction and operation phases are:

  • The change in the use of soil be- cause of the alteration or disappearance of vegetation cover.
  • Decrease of the area of natural habitats.
  • Alteration of the trophic network
  • Landscape change.
  • Loss of vegetation cover.
  • Alteration of the structure and composition of wild flora and fauna.
  • Loss of species of high value for conservation.

The risks to biodiversity are mitigated by the preparation of the environmental impact study and the implementation of the corresponding environmental management measures.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is carried out to identify the environmental effects. The studies include inventories of the flora and fauna susceptible to being affected by the project and the environmental impact generated. These are managed through the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which has programs for reforestation, restoration and control of the quality of air, water, soil and the social environment, which are designed to prevent, mitigate and monitor changes to the natural conditions of resources in the projects’ area of influence.

The majority of the organization’s power plants are located in areas with high atrophic intervention and although they have a wealth of fauna and flora characteristic of the rural areas of Colombian territory, they are not part of protected areas. Only the Alto and Bajo Anchicayá power plants are in the area of the Farallones National Natural Park, which EPSA supports in conservation activities.

In Integrated Report 2019 you can find our biodiversity management.

Click here for the inventory of biodiversity found in our generation plants

View more

A compendium of the findings derived from the environmental investigations that are advanced in the framework of the licensing of the hydroelectric project San Andrés

View more

We have witnessed the increase in the use of non-conventional renewable energy and we have not ignored this change. Recognizing that the availability of natural resources in terms of quality and quantity is essential for our operations, we have invested in a diversified, efficient energy matrix in line with the current needs of our stakeholders, having all the technology to generate the energy you want in our portfolio.

To turn our commitments into actions, we promote projects for the optimization of energy generation, water conservation in the areas where we operate, as well as electric power generation with alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind power; the use of which reduces the pressure on non-renewable sources of energy.

In accordance with the above, we have established the following commitments for comprehensive water management in the Environmental Policy.

  • Conserve the watersheds in the areas of influence.
  • Use water efficiently and assess the water risk in areas of operation and in new projects.
  • Measure the water footprint in all operations and implement the measures necessary to decrease its intensity.
  • Promote projects to improve the water supply for different uses in the value chain.

Additionally, we keep assessing the risk of water shortages with the methods of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), specifically with the Global Water Tool (GWT). Said methods have confirmed that none of our operations are in areas of water stress.

Additionally, the water risks related to our operations are constantly assessed with the Aqueduct tool of the World Resources Institute (WRI), which shows us that most of the power plants have low/medium risk.

In addition, we are measuring the water footprint, we continue to adhere to the initiative of the CEO Water Mandate, which promotes the Global Compact, and to CDP Agua, which means that we develop a systemic water management with the option of improving its sufficient use.

We present the results of the Water Footprint in the years in which the measurement was performed.

Facing climate phenomena (such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation-ENSO), the company plans the generation in the reservoirs., Through which energy is guaranteed for the system and the impacts of said phenomena on the communities are minimized, because hydroelectric plants with reservoirs facilitate the regulation of water and alleviate droughts in the dry season (El Niño phenomena) and crests in the rainy season (La Niña phenomena). Moreover, by preparing the plants Environmental Management Plans, the Organization seeks to prevent or mitigate possible conflicts that may arise with other basin users. To do so, we agree on management measures with the communities.

Risks from weather phenomena are also monitored via a commercial management process, assessing their impact on margins of operations. This allows us to identify opportunities for energy sales (for purchase or sale) or the need to purchase additional fuel for greater thermal energy generation to cover the portfolio’s exposure from unfavorable water conditions.

In Integrated Report 2019 you can find our management.

In Celsia we are aware that water is a strategic resource for your business and an axis of development for the regions, through our Environmental Policy, the company has established commitments for its integral management. To convert its commitments into actions, Celsia promotes projects to optimize the generation of energy, the conservation of water in the areas where we operate, as well as the generation of electrical energy with alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind energy; the use of which reduces the pressure on non-renewable energy sources

Consult here about water stress

View more

Fuel supply

In compliance with the regulatory demands, the organization actively participates through different mechanisms to cover our needs, such as: the sales process, mainly with producers and third parties on the secondary market; and the procurement of infrastructure for importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) on international markets. This has allowed us to back up our energy obligations for the reliability charge and for the daily operation of our thermal power plants.