Hydroelectric energy: a clean and renewable source

Hydroelectric plants take advantage of the power of water to generate electricity.
Ancient civilizations used the power generated by the water in rivers to operate mills and manage field irrigation. Today hydroelectric energy can be produced through natural or artificial reservoirs, which use barriers to prevent water from dispersing. Stored water is conveyed at high speed inside the conduits that take it downstream to the plants in which turbines are installed.

Acea owns seven hydropower plants. Among them, the Salisano plant, which is considered a masterpiece of technology: it has been built excavating galleries in limestone rock and uses water that comes from the Peschiera-Capore acqueduct system, one of the largest in the world to convey exclusively spring water. The Galileo Ferraris hydropower plant in Mandela was updated in January 2020 and has a new technological structure that has improved energy efficiency optimizing the use of water and using 100% of its capacity.

Presence in the hydroelectricity sector is part of a sustainability strategy that sees Acea Group actively involved in contributing to reach the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Specifically:

• Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: access to energy is an essential requirement to creating economic and social value. For example, providing clean water to fields in economically disadvantaged areas, thereby helping to increase food production. Goal 7 on the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations aims at increasing renewable energy capacity worldwide, promoting research in the renewable energy sector, and investing more in producing clean energy.

• Goal 13 – Action against Climate Change: one of the main challenges of this millennium. Rising temperatures are causing significant damage to ecosystems and certain business models, for example, the agricultural world. Goal 13 on the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations aims at encouraging countries and companies to adopt climate protection measures and include them in their policies and strategies and at promoting more activities that raise awareness of these issues.

Protecting the environment means taking care of every present and future aspect of our lives. Hydroelectric energy, the perfect balance of technology and sustainability, is one of the activities that can help preserve the environment for a greener future.