People are at the center of sustainability in Brazil and Greece

Brazil and Greece are on opposite sides of the world, and aside from being known for the hospitality of their inhabitants, might seem to have little in common. But there’s a common thread linking them today, and it runs through our plants, with local initiatives based on sustainability, training and social inclusion. This is the story of those projects: one in the area of our Vamvakies power plant in Western Macedonia and the other near our Aroeira and Lagoa dos Ventos power plants in Brazil. Greece: a solar park that’s breathing new life into the community Western Macedonia is the only landlocked region in Greece. It goes without saying that it’s almost unknown to international tourists, who usually have other destinations in mind. It’s partly because of this that the Greek financial crisis has plunged what was once a thriving energy center into dire straits, leading to high unemployment and rural depopulation, and making it one of the poorest and most socially isolated areas in the country. Women, especially, have been affected by these problems, followed by low-skilled youth and people with disabilities. But as Sofia Boutsikoudi, Sustainability Manager at Enel Green Power Hellas -now part of a joint venture with Macquarie Asset Management - explain us that the problems certainly didn’t end there. "We developed a cluster of six solar PV projects in Kozani. During the development, there was strong local opposition due to the numerous photovoltaic systems in the region." The project has been modified to make it more inclusive: "We wanted to support and empower the local community by installing a PV system that would create shared value, so we investigated the issues and challenges in this area. We found a way to make it benefit both Enel and the local community by developing an agrivoltaic park. In this way, the Vamvakies site is shared with local people and efficiently used for both the production of clean energy and the cultivation of organic herbs." Furthermore, training courses were provided, dedicated especially to young people who want to start a small business. In-person courses were also made available online on the project’s website, covering educational programs to promote and enhance entrepreneurship and topics such as business planning, the production and promotion of local products, and much more. And what about women – who, as we’ve seen, have been most affected by the effects of the crisis? "A group of women were given help in starting their own business, producing and selling aromatic herbs. They had been either unemployed or working on farms, with zero personal income,” adds Sofia. "The training courses we offered the women, together with our guidance and support, have already led to the creation of the first production line under the MYROLAND brand." Brazil: managing natural resources more effectively We’re in Brazil, specifically at our Aroeira and Lagoa dos Ventos power plants, in an area severely affected by drought. The project we developed here aims to give the local community technical assistance and training in the effective use of natural resources. Not only that, it also covers techniques for managing farm animals, mainly goats and sheep, in order to prevent them from injuring themselves if they try to escape to go in search of food. Rafael Halfeld Divan Giusti, the Sustainability Analyst at EGP in Brazil who’s in charge of the project, tells us that: "Guidance was provided on food production through agroforestry systems and soil conservation practices, such as the use of plant residues to improve soil fertility and protection for native bees working as pollinators, thereby enhancing the production of some fruit species. In this way, the project has contributed to the introduction of content that has added new knowledge about the innumerable possibilities and potential in the Caatinga Biome for food production, resource conservation, and strengthening production activities." It’s a program that has promoted entrepreneurship in the area and fueled local income generation.

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People are at the center of sustainability in Brazil and Greece

People are at the center of sustainability in Brazil and Greece