A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY MOBILITY TRENDS DRIVES

Aleatica is a diverse transportation infrastructure operator that actively engages with its global stakeholders and has two overriding objectives: to reduce GHG emissions and positively impact society. Director of Global Sustainability Vanessa Silveyra discussed Aleatica’s comprehensive activities and ambitions in conversation with Andy Probert.

Since 2018, Aleatica has had under its management 20 concessions: 16 highways, two commercial ports, one light railway and one airport. These operations are divided between the UK (with M6toll located in Birmingham), Italy, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru. Across its portfolio, 366 million vehicles travel on Aleatica's roads each year.

In 2022, the company generated €930m in net sales. Employing over 2,880 people, Aleatica's controlling shareholder is IFM Investors, an Australian investment fund specialising in infrastructure that manages assets of $211 billion Australian dollars worldwide.

Aleatica's global scope makes it an agile and reliable ally for communities in need of long-term mobility solutions that foster sustainable growth. “Sustainability is our priority,” said Vanessa Silveyra, Director of Global Sustainability, “because it contributes to regional development and competitiveness by introducing best international practices across our operations.

“ Innovative infrastructure projects demonstrate how science and technology alone are not enough to deliver sustainability. Dialogue and teamwork between different stakeholders are required to achieve specific objectives . That's why our team works to improve the quality of life for passengers, employees and the communities where we operat e.”

Innovative projects

In 2022, Aleatica unveiled its inductive recharging technology for electric vehicles , Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). The company invested nearly €7 million in a pilot DWPT project, La Arena del Futuro, next to the Aleatica-managed and operated A35 Brebemi highway that connects Milan with Brescia.

This collaborative project between the public sector, business and universities created the technology that allows electric vehicles to recharge their batteries while travelling in dedicated lanes. This innovative system of coils positioned under the asphalt transfers energy directly to the vehicles and is a ‘zero emissions’ mobility system that includes various elements, such as asphalt, control units, cables, electric vehicles and 5G connectivity.

The project findings demonstrated greater energy efficiency for the vehicles due to their ability to charge on roads, and increased average battery lifespan.

“All these goals were achieved due to the technologies offered by 5G and AIbased application solutions,” Ms Silveyra explained. “They facilitated the exchange of information between vehicle and management platforms, increasing road safety and travel efficiency.”

DWPT, in its dynamic and static inductive versions, has attracted potential interest for commercial development in Italy and abroad. “Its versatility is one of the main reasons it is so attractive, given that it is also suitable when combined with other infrastructure such as ports, airports and parking lots,” she added.

Aleatica also devised the best option for the road connections to the recently built Felipe Ángeles airport, one of the Mexican government's main infrastructure projects. With an investment of $3.9 billion, Aleatica developed a world-class elevated highway of more than 8km along the Circuito Exterior Mexiquense (a road that extends for 117kms), which is comprised of overpasses that provide access to the three main travel-generating areas: Toluca, Querétaro, and Mexico City.

The project represents one of the most complex mobility solutions in the country – making it the second largest access road in Mexico.

The company also inaugurated the Vespucio Oriente Highway in Chile, an investment of nearly $1 billion, a significant step forward in achieving the country’s connectivity. This project is an almost entirely underground stretch of road in which different technologies were used in its construction. Its digital automatic collection system allows users pay only for the kilometres they drive, reducing expenses and optimising travel times.

Sustainability strategy

In 2022, the company allocated €760,000 to social initiatives related to its core business. Aleatica developed a Strategic Sustainability Plan which promotes envir onmental strategies such as adapting to climate change effects, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving energy efficiency, and protecting biodiversity.

Aleatica’s future plans include expanding its global footprint and strengthening its culture of social and environmental sustainability across its business units.

It has developed a Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience Strategy based on two lines of action: reducing the GHG concentrations in the atmosphere and strengthening infrastructure and operations vulnerable to climate change. The goal is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050.

To achieve these results, Aleatica has an action plan focusing on energy efficiency, decarbonisation and the use of clean energy sources. This includes updating office equipment to increase energy efficiency, a decarbonisation programme that provides for progressive replacement of vehicle fleets with hybrid or electric vehicles, and a greater reliance on renewable energy.

Aleatica’s energy consumption from renewable sources represents 41%. The solar energy generated in the facilities themselves increased by 19% in 2022, year-on-year, which helped to avoid 1,786.71 tCO2e indirect Scope 2 emissions, equivalent to one year’s absorption of CO 2 in 734 acres of forest.

Aleatica’s Adaptation and Resilience Strategy is a long-term action plan that spans the business units that have a high degree of vulnerability to risks associated with climate change, due to their geographic location. It includes three main components: risk management, climate awareness and capacity building, and the Aleatica Climate Change Adaptation Management System structured around its ISO 14090 standards.

Industry responsibility

“ We also commit to strengthening our relationships with suppliers in social and environmental sustainability, implementing standards and achieving the percentage of emission reduction committed to by IFM,” Ms Silveyra explained.

Aleatica is committed to the UN’s Global Compact and aligns its actions with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda. “We base our sustainability strategies on materiality studies, using international methodologies that identify the aspects of our business that require specific projects,” said Ms Silveyra.

“Achieving a real and positive impact regarding sustainability is our biggest challenge. It is estimated that 32 per cent of global CO 2 emissions come from the transportation industry, hence the importance of decarbonising our mobility as soon as possible. This requires careful planning, innovative financing models and a commitment to sustainable road construction and maintenance practices.”

As part of the company’s ESG strategy, governance is also a core focus, according to Ms Silveyra: “Corporate integrity is a pillar that defines Aleatica, and we have adopted the best international practices to ensure transparency. Our objective is to distinguish ourselves as a reliable partner and a benchmark infrastructure operator.”

Aleatica focuses on forming alliances to build viable solutions that comprehensively contribute to sustainability. A multi-sectoral perspective that integrates business, government and civil society will help develop infrastructure that reduces emissions and positively impacts communities.

“We engage with suppliers, neighbours and communities with whom we build a productive, trusting and cordial longterm relationship,” continued Ms Silveyra. “Our company has a global vision matching customers' requirements and needs so that the service experience is safe, innovative, and reliable. We are constantly looking to improve, and we use data collection systems and cutting-edge technologies to make our users’ journey world-class.

“The industry has a responsibility to rethink how it contributes to society and ensure that it makes measurable contributions in creating smart, safe and sustainable mobility,” Ms Silveyra concluded. “Our future depends on turning commitments into actions and infrastructure development must be done with a holistic approach that delivers mobility solutions for our world and future generations.”