Non-financial indicators
As a responsible energy and environmental services provider, EVN considers the dimensions “People”, “Environment” and “Economy” as three interrelated parts of a whole and works to achieve a balance between the requirements of the different interest groups. Sustainability aspects and the related objectives represent an integral part of the corporate strategy and play an important role in achieving and maintaining steady growth in the company’s value.
EVN as responsible employer
The EVN Group had an average of 7,314 employees during the 2013/14 financial year. The share of women equalled 21.4% during this period. The Frauen@EVN programme, which was launched in 2010/11, is designed, in particular, to improve the conditions that traditionally have a greater negative effect on women than on men. The goals are to guarantee equal opportunities for women and men and to increase the share of women at EVN.
EVN is well aware of the high strategic importance of its qualified workforce. Consequently, the protection and expansion of this high level of expertise represent a focal point for human resources management. The training and professional development offering for employees in Austria, Bulgaria and Macedonia is coordinated by the EVN Academy. Training and educational expenses totalled EUR 2.3m in 2013/14 (previous year: EUR 2.3m), or EUR 310.4 per employee (previous year: EUR 314.8). The average time dedicated to training rose from 31.3 hours per employee in the previous year to 34.9 hours in 2013/14.
Supply security, environmental protection and resource conservation, sustainable energy generation and climate protection
A flexible generation mix is of decisive importance to ensure supply security and protect EVN’s future viability. The further expansion of energy generation from renewable sources – in particular windpower and hydropower as well as biomass and photovoltaics – therefore represents a focal point of the company’s strategy. In 2013/14, renewable energy sources were responsible for 42.5% of EVN’s total electricity production. EVN‘s objective is to raise the share of renewable energies in the electricity generation mix to 50%. In the home market of Lower Austria, activities are directed, above all, to expanding windpower production to raise this generation capacity from the current level of 213 MW to approx. 300 MW over the medium term. In addition to ecological responsibility, EVN also carries an economic responsibility that is reflected in a goal to generate 30% of its electricity sales volumes from its own production or procurement rights.
EVN is involved in numerous innovation, development and research projects for an efficient, intelligent and environmentally friendly energy future. The projects in this portfolio reflect current and future demands on the core energy and environmental services businesses across all levels of the value chain. The goals of the Group‘s innovation, development and research activities are derived from the corporate strategy and are measured by the benefits they provide for the protection of the environment and resources, supply security and, last but not least, for EVN’s competitiveness. EVN organises its research activities by combining expertise from various areas. Research projects involve – wherever feasible – cooperation between different areas of the company and numerous partners from science and industry. Since EVN concentrates on applied research and development, its know-how is complemented by the expertise of its scientific cooperation partners who focus on basic research. The exchange of experience in national and international projects not only adds to the success of EVN’s projects, but also supports universities and public research institutions with up-to-date research topics and makes an important contribution to the qualified and practically oriented education of students.
In 2013/14, EVN spent EUR 1.24m (thereof 13.4% financed through public subsidies) on innovation, research and development projects. Most of this work was focused on the network integration of renewable energy sources. Examples include the initiation and realisation of projects for innovative energy storage (power-to-gas, battery storage) as well as decentralised generation (photovoltaics and small-scale windpower) and smart grids. In addition, the e-mobility model region Lower Austria with numerous offers for end customers continued under EVN’s direction during the reporting year. Conventional generation projects centred on the continuous optimisation of existing power plants to increase flexibility and reduce CO2 emissions. Biotechnological methods will be used to convert the pure CO2 resulting from the generation process into biologically degradable plastic. The Environmental Services Segment is working on energy efficiency improvements for existing waste water treatment plants, the further optimisation of energy requirements for new waste water treatment plants and the continued development of a small sewage sludge incineration plant as well as the evaluation of the resulting residue for its possible use in further processing steps.
