ECA has been actively supporting the energy transition and sustainability since it was founded. Solutions to net zero targets and energy transition challenges are at the core of our four service areas of network regulation, climate strategy, markets & commercial and investment planning. In the last 20 years we have carried out about 250 relevant consulting projects, worldwide, providing support to all types of decision makers, on planning, development, regulation and institutional support relative to the following:
- Renewable energy market and grid integration
- Energy storage project assessments
- Energy efficiency regulation and policy
- Hydrogen strategies and integration
- Low carbon strategy and policy
- Climate resilience / adaptation
- Sustainable heating and cooling
- E-mobility and interaction with power systems
- Carbon pricing instrument design
- Off-grid and energy access regulatory framework design
In addition to our professional focus, we are also committed to minimising the impact of our own activities on the environment. In pursuit of this goal, we:
- Avoid travel whenever feasible and maximise the use of electronic media (teleconference and videoconference) for communication with clients and partners. Under this specific assignment, for the final workshop which we have assumed will be in person to facilitate communication, the Project Manager will travel from the UK by train and ferry to minimise emissions.
- Store and transfer documents electronically wherever possible and avoid printing documents and correspondence unless clients specifically require hard copy documents or unless printing is necessary for the reading of documents by staff (for example during some travel). All documents for office/travel use are printed in reduced size, to minimise the number of pages required.
- Store electronically correspondence that is received electronically and generally avoid printing of e-mails and other correspondence.
- Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, cans, coffee pods and other material. We have installed recycling bins for separation of waste in all ECA offices.
- Minimise the use of electricity in the office by using lighting that responds to movement sensors that detect the presence of staff.
- Use low energy cooling in the summer months through the use of good ventilation and ceiling fans, in preference to air conditioning.
- Encourage staff to travel to work by foot, bicycle or public transport. Staff may store bicycles inside the building. We participate in the UK Government’s Cycle to Work scheme designed to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduce environmental pollution, which allows employers to loan cycles and cyclists’ safety equipment to employees as a tax-free benefit.