CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility

Verdo’s vision is to generate green energy that makes a world of difference. We see it as part of our responsibility to contribute to the green transformation and supply more sustainable energy. This is an ambitious but necessary vision, because according to figures from the Danish Energy Agency fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of the planet’s total energy consumption.

Transition from black to green district heating

Verdo’s transition from the use of black to green energy in district heating production began in 2002 with the gradual transition from coal to biomass at the CHP plant Randers Kraftvarmeværk. The conversion to biomass was fully implemented in 2009. From 2002 to the present day, Randers Kraftvarmeværk has reduced CO 2 emissions by 99.3%. The calculation assumes an emission factor for biomass of zero according to Commission Regulation (EU) on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 2016, Verdo has fired with certified biomass in accordance with the Danish Industry Agreement for Sustainable Biomass. The reason is that CO 2 emissions from coal are permanent, while emissions from certified biomass are temporary due to documented, responsible reforestation and forest management and the absorption of CO 2 emissions by plants and trees over time.

The transition has been crucial in reducing the CO 2 footprint of district heating production and thereby the negative environmental impact.

Since 2015, Verdo has supported independent certification schemes that ensure sustainable and safe production of woodbased fuels. We do this because we believe in sustainable and documentable fuel production. Today, we have several Chain of Custody certifications (CoC) – FSC®, PEFC™, SBP and the NEPCon Generic Chain of Custody.

From permanent to temporary CO 2 emissions

The 2018 Energy Agreement significantly boosted the development of fully and partially electrified energy systems. By installing a heat pump at the CHP plant, we have achieved increased efficiency with lower biomass consumption. In 2019, this enabled us to once again lower the price of district heating paid by our customers while also reducing our total CO 2 footprint.

Green electricity

In 2013, we began offering our customers green electricity as an alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based electricity. Today, we offer green electricity to all our customers, and green electricity now covers 100% of the Group’s own consumption.

Switch to LED lighting

Since 2015, Verdo has undertaken the comprehensive task of replacing conventional lighting units with more climate-friendly LED technology, which reduces the CO 2 impact of lighting. We have continuously installed LED lighting in our own indoor and outdoor areas, as well as helping an increasing number of customers to replace their street lighting, indoor and outdoor lighting and effect lighting with LED lighting. This has produced energy savings of up to 70%.

Energy companies’ energy-saving efforts

As an energy group engaged in heat and electricity distribution, we are required to report our energy savings to the Danish Energy Agency each year. This is a high-priority area for Verdo, and every year since 2016 we have achieved energy savings in several areas.

Tree planting and forest preservation

In 2016, Verdo helped plant the Oust Mølle Folkeskov forest, and in 2019 we took over the 39-hectare Randers Sønderskov forest. This was part of our efforts to protect source areas and water extraction in future. With our new strategy and vision, Verdo is accelerating the contribution to the green transformation by, among other things, living up to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals with a particular focus on goal no. 6 ‘Clean water and sanitation’, goal no. 7 ‘Affordable and clean energy’ and goal no. 13 ‘Climate action’.