Energy projects typically have life spans of between 20 and 30 years. Long- term vision is vital. SUEZ Energy International (SEI) aims to establish enduring relationships with local communities and to respect the environment they live in; and to convince customers, suppliers, politicians and official bodies of our lasting commitment to them. The object is to strike deals which place a value on these relationships, as well as the assets themselves; rather than to pursue short-term profits.
SEI takes a structured approach to sustainable development throughout its organisation. It has a Senior Vice-President who oversees the sustainable development aspects of all SEI's projects in development; and two Environmental Officers in the operational departments.
SEI promotes natural gas as a clean and efficient source of fuel. Converting to natural gas displaces other more polluting fuels used by industry and domestic customers. It also helps reduce industry's costs: it is a more efficient fuel than say heavy oil, and industrial processes use less of it.
Another example of sustainable use of energy contributing to the environment is the 28 MW electricity biomass project developed by Tractebel Energia in the town of Lages in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. This forest waste-fired plant provides 25 tonnes/hour of steam for adjacent plants belonging to forestry companies who supply the biomass fuel. The wood waste used to fire the station would otherwise be left to decay, polluting rivers and causing methane emissions. Methane is one of the 6 greenhouse gases (GHG). SUEZ Energy North America also operates a number of wood fired plants in the USA.
SEI also helps to promote other environmentally friendly fuel sources. Hydro-electric power for example features strongly in countries such as Brazil, and is by definition a renewable energy source. However, the disruption to communities caused by the building of dams and reservoirs has to be recognised, and SEI makes major efforts to mitigate the environmental and social impact of such projects.
Through its use of advanced co-generation technology fuelled by natural gas SUEZ Energy International has become a relatively low CO2 emitter. SEI is developing Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under the Kyoto Protocol in order to reduce the global CO2 emissions worldwide.
