In line with the Group’s sustainability targets, Acea has set up the new Green & Blue Financing Framework, for the potential issuance of Green/Blue Bonds and Green/Blue Loans.
Acea’s Green & Blue Financing Framework has been developed in keeping with the latest international Principles and Guidelines and more specifically: the Green Bond Principles, the Green Loan Principles and, for the first time, the Practitioner's Guide to the Blue Economy and the Blue Finance Guidelines, demonstrating the Group’s engagement in the water sector.
The Green & Blue Financing Framework updates the previous 2021 version of the Green Financing Framework, taking into account the evolution that has taken place in market and regulatory practices – with special reference to European Taxonomy – and valorising the trends indicated in the Group’s 2024-2028 Business Plan and Sustainability Plan.
The framework comprises the following sections:
1.
Use of proceeds
2.
Process for project evaluation and selection
3.
Management of proceeds
4.
Reporting
Acea has an ongoing commitment to sustainability issues and pursues sustainable finance market best practices. The Green & Blue Financing Framework is therefore periodically revised to maintain consistency with situation changes and industrial trends.
The Green & Blue Financing Framework, reflecting the main areas of activity performed by the Group, has identified 5 eligible investment categories:
Water Supply
Wastewater Treatment & Collection
Circular Economy
Energy Efficiency
Renewable Energy
Moreover, for each category a panel of potentially financeable projects has been identified, linking them to Taxonomy environmental activities and objectives and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deemed relevant.
In January 2021, having elaborated its Green Financing Framework, the Acea Group issued its first Green Bond, for the total amount of 900 million Euro, fully allocated, as described in the Green Bond Allocation & Impact Reports published in May 2022 and January 2024.
In January 2023, its second Green Bond was issued, for the total amount of 700 million Euro, whose proceeds are currently being allocated, as described in the third Green Bond Allocation & Impact Report published in September 2024.
Documents
Acea Green Financing Framework - January 2021
Second Party Opinion - January 2021
Green Bond Allocation & Impact Report - March 2022
Green Bond Allocation & Impact Report - January 2024
Green Bond Allocation & Impact Report - September 2024
Second Party Opinion - January 2025
Acea Green & Blue Financing Framework - February 2025
To learn more about the projects described in the September 2024 Green Bond Report, browse the list of different axes below.
Water Management
To find out more about the two projects in the "Water management" axis, you can see and download the related sheets.
1. Water losses reduction - Related SDG: 6 - Download
2. Interventions to increase the water system resilience and the security of water supply - Related SDGs: 6, 9, 13 - Download
To find out more about the five projects in the "Energy efficiency" axis, you can see and download the related sheets.
3. Energy efficiency in the electricity distribution networks’ management - Related SDGs: 7, 9, 13 - Download
4. Increased resilience in the electricity distribution network thanks to development, modernisation, connectivity and telematic control interventions - Related SDGs: 7, 9, 13, 15 - Download
5. Electric mobility and related services - Related SDGs: 9, 11, 13 - Download
6. Environmental impact reduction from the vehicles of the company’s fleet - Related SDGs: 11, 13 - Download
7. Substitution of 2G meters in the electricity distribution service - Related SDGs: 9, 11, 13 - Download
To find out more about the five projects in the "Circular economy" axis, you can see and download the related sheets.
8. Efficiency and modernisation of the purification sector (sludge reduction, centralisation and processing capacity increase, energy efficiency) - Related SDGs: 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 - Download
9. Biomethane production from purification plants - Related SDGs: 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 - Download
10. Production of renewable energy through composting plants - Related SDGs: 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 - Download
11. Increase in the waste treatment capacity - Related SDGs: 11, 12 - Download
12. Acea Smart Comp - Related SDGs: 11, 12 - Download
To find out more about the five projects in the "Green energy" axis, you can see and download the related sheet.
13. Production of electric energy from photovoltaic sources - Related SDGs: 7, 9, 13 - Download
