CTG Brasil achieves 100% carbon neutrality in 2020

China Three Gorges Brasil Energia Ltda. (CTG Brasil), the Brazilian arm of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), announced that it had achieved 100% carbon neutrality in 2020.

According to the carbon emission inventory, CTG Brasil"s direct carbon emissions and indirect carbon emissions related to electricity consumption totaled 1,332.84 tons in 2020. It achieved carbon offsets of 1,332.84 tons by partnering with Energias De Portugal (EDP) to support conservation projects in the forests of Jari Valley. This is the second consecutive year since 2019 that the company has achieved 100% carbon neutrality.

Spanning 220,000 hectares of forest in the Brazilian states of Pará and Amapá, conservation projects in the forests of Jari Valley are aimed at mitigating deforestation and forest degradation in specific districts certified by the Brazilian Forest Stewardship Council.  Meanwhile, the project also promotes common societal development by offering aid to some surrounding small-scale agricultural producers in terms of sustainable production technology.

CTG Brasil has incorporated sustainable development into its DNA. In 2020, it invested 22.86 million Brazilian reais in environmental protection, up 34% year on year, including planting 156 hectares of trees. It also carried out activities like fish release and breeding, animal and plant protection, and water quality monitoring and improvement, contributing to fulfilling the Sustainable Development (SDGs) goals of the United Nations.

"The core business of CTG Brasil is to produce 100% clean and renewable energy on a large scale, and to take ESG (environmental, social and governance) as a robust long-term strategic guiding element for the company to further promote the shift to sustainable economic and social development,"  said Marcio Peres, director of asset management at the company.

The 2020 carbon emission inventory of CTG Brasil has received the gold seal from the Brazil GHG Protocol Program (also known as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol). The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, one of the most widely adopted greenhouse gas accounting tool in the world, is designed to help governments and enterprises understand, measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions.

Fish breeding and release initiatives

CTG Brasil"s fish breeding and release project is an important means to ensure the continued reproduction of fish populations in the reservoir areas of its hydropower stations as well as part of the company"s efforts to act on corporate social responsibilities and promote local education on environmental protection.  The project helps CTG establish itself as a world-class clean energy brand in the Brazilian market.

With a water area of 20,000 square meters, the Fish Breeding Center in the reservoir area of Salto Grande HPP has 54 fish ponds that currently breed 7 species of local fish. Each year, about 1.5 million fish are bred and released at 8 hydropower plants in the Paranapanema River basin. Following CTG"s acquisition of Duke Energy Brazil"s hydropower stations, the activity continues and extends to the Parana River basin, with a total of about 3.6 million fish fry released annually. The Ecology and Fish Governance Project of the Salto Grande HPP won the Best Practice Award in the 16th Brazil"s Sustainability Practice Competition in 2018.

Wild animal protection

In early 2020, CTG Brasil took over the management of Ilha Wildlife Conservation Center, which now has 302 animals of 53 species. Among them, cougar, Brazil"s second largest cat, has been selected as the icon of Ilha Wildlife Conservation Center.

Aquatic environment protection

In order to protect the aquatic environment and biodiversity, CTG Brasil monitors and reuses aquatic plants. It works with Lactec, a local scientific research institution, to develop an aquatic plant health system, and establish an information bank for aquatic plants. These efforts inform decision-making related to aquatic environment governance. Since July 2019, the company has been collaborating with SENAI, one of the most important institutions in Brazil providing formal training for specialized workers for the industry, on R&D efforts. Using pyrolysis technology, their project converts overgrowned aquatic plants in rivers and reservoirs into biofuels, promoting local ecological balance.

Cracking the "gene code" to prevent invasion of exotic species

In order to reduce the negative impact of golden mussel, an invasive species, on local environment and ensure local biodiversity, CTG Brasil joins hands with Brasil"s Bio Bureau to optimize the genome mapping of golden mussels by using the “gene-drive” technology.  The move aims to provide advanced and economical biotech solutions for controlling the invasion of golden mussels. The project won the Best Practice Award in the 17th Brazil"s Sustainability Practice Competition in 2019, and won the first prize in the Harmony with Nature category in the collection of cases of Chinese Enterprises’ Global Identity Construction in 2021. It was awarded the Winning Prize of Golden Key-SDG-oriented China Actions in 2021, and was selected as 2021 Top Ten Best Cases of Chinese Enterprises’ Global Identity Construction.

In addition to environmental protection, CTG Brasil strives to integrate power station construction and operation with local economic, cultural and educational development, fulfill corporate social responsibilities, and integrate into local communities. In 2021, CTG Brasil, in partnership with Instituto Meio, a local non-profit organization, launched a pilot project on income creation and entrepreneurship, fostering genuine transformation and sustainable development of the underdeveloped areas surrounding its power stations. In the areas surrounding Jurumirim hydropower station, the company provides online training for founders of small and micro enterprises on management, finance and marketing. According to the survey, all of the 136 participants saw an average revenue increase of 42%. In the areas surrounding Garibaldi hydropower station, CTG Brasil offers face-to-face or remote professional guidance to self-employed agricultural producers, small agricultural cooperatives and other production groups in a bid to help them improve their production efficiency and income, and alleviate financing difficulties. The project has also selected 3 relatively innovative and promising production teams. It strives to accelerate their development, gives them more autonomy, and continues to track and evaluate their operations.

The company also implemented more than 20 other social responsibility projects in the surrounding areas of its power stations in 2021, such as Guri youth music courses, Fun Reading and hippotherapy, covering themes like education, culture, healthcare and health. These efforts were widely acclaimed by local residents.