Sustainable Development Goals


In 2015, 193 countries committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals constitute an action plan for a sustainable world free of poverty. By encouraging new ways of collaboration and collective action, this ‘Agenda 2030’ will promote change in a step-by-step process. Collective action by businesses, civil society organisations and governments is crucial to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030.

Alliander and the Sustainable Development Goals: influence is key

Alliander plays an essential role in securing a safe and constant availability of energy. In addition, we are working on a more sustainable energy network and devising solutions for new market issues. Through collaboration and ongoing innovation, we continuously seek to create social value and mitigate negative impacts (see 'Our impact'). In this way, we are determined to be part of the solution.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

For our own organisation and environment, we have analysed how Alliander can best contribute towards the achievement of the SDGs in the Netherlands. Where is our greatest impact and where can the greatest gains be realised? To this end, we carried out a comprehensive review of our operations, core activities and entire value creation process in the light of the SDGs. The aim was to ascertain which goals best match our own initiatives, objectives, strategy and stakeholder expectations. We identified a number of ‘high-impact’ SDGs that Alliander will focus on in the coming years.

Ambitions

As a company, we want to make our biggest contribution to SDG 7. This SDG largely coincides with our mission: access to reliable, affordable and accessible energy for all. In addition, we are contributing to more sustainable cities and communities by responding to the challenges and opportunities that the built-up environment offers for renewable energy and sustainable development at local level. The responsible consumption and production of our operating assets, infrastructure and energy based on circular and socially responsible economic principles ties in well with our ambitions for circularity, fair production and climate neutrality. In addition, we are committed to offering our employees a safe and fair working environment as well as inclusive and sustainable employment. It is our ambition to make a significant contribution towards the achievement of the above-mentioned objectives in 2030. The SDGs are integrally connected to our long-term objectives.

Affordable and sustainable energy

Explanation

“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”

Alliander's contribution to SDG 7 in the long term*

  • Annually connect all new local generation in our regions

  • Make heating transition arrangements with all municipalities and corporations in our service areas by 2020

  • Zero CO2 emissions on an annualised basis from 2023

  • A maximum outage duration of 21 minutes

Actions and policy

  • Alliander aims to keep costs as low as possible for the customer and to divide costs as fairly as possible

  • Alliander facilitates the energy transition, for instance by offering open and sustainable networks

  • Actively improve the energy efficiency of our own operations

  • Offer insight into energy usage with Smart meter and options for meter applications

  • Make network losses greener by investing in renewable generation

  • Participation in international initiatives aimed at knowledge sharing and technology development and application

Our results in 2017

  • Outage duration is 20.9 minutes

  • CO2 emissions amount to 632 ktonnes

  • Smart meters offered to 535,740 addresses

Impact

  • Economic added value

  • Climate change and resource depletion

*We, at Alliander, contribute mainly to the following SDG sub-targets: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5

GRI Standards - Climate change, energy consumption and CO2 (GRI 302), Regulation and tariffs (own indicator) / Reliability of supply (own indicator)

Sustainable living environment

Explanation

“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”

Alliander’s contribution to SDG 11 in the long term*

  • Make sufficient capacity available

  • Provide infrastructure and capacity for e-vehicle charging points

Actions and policy

  • Keep tariffs under control

  • Improve air quality by facilitating clean electrical transport

  • Introduce and apply flexible pricing (e.g.: pay per use)

  • Sustainable area development, ambitious housing by means of transition buildings

  • Make Alliander a zero-energy company

  • Research into substitution of gas and awareness of gas usage

  • Participation in Green Alliances and networks

Our results in 2017

  • 58% of planned digitisation programmes completed

  • CO2 emissions for our buildings decreased 10% compared to 2016

Impact

  • Economic added value

  • Climate change and resource depletion

  • Cooperation in districts and neighbourhoods

*We, at Alliander, contribute mainly to the following SDG sub-targets: 11.3, 11.6 and 11.a

GRI Standards - Safe infrastructure, GRI 201: Economic performance, Transparency (GRI 415) / Investment policy (EU6) / Role of energy generation (Own indicator)

Circular economy

Meaning

"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"

Alliander's contribution to SDG 12 in the long term*

  • In 2025, 90% of our primary asset procurement is based on circular principles

Actions and policy

  • Extended use of existing assets and, where applicable, replacement of assets with recycled materials

  • Circular network operator: map out a concrete circular roadmap

  • Expansion and further operational integration of raw materials passport

  • Transparency on sustainability information

  • Climate-neutral in 2023

  • Cooperation and participation in Green networks and Dutch infrastructure companies

  • Sustainable procurement

Our results in 2017

  • At least 70.4% of our procurement is socially responsible

Impact

  • Climate change and resource depletion

*We, at Alliander, contribute mainly to the following SDG sub-targets: 12.2, 12.5 and 12.6

GRI Standards - Climate change, energy consumption and CO2 (GRI 305), Supply chain responsibility (GRI 301/414, own indicator)

Decent and safe work

Explanation

“Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for everyone”

Alliander’s contribution to SDG 8 in the long term*

  • Annually offer 100 apprenticeships to people at a distance from the labour market 

  • By 2025, 33% of our managers are female

  • LTIF lower than 2 and absenteeism lower than 3.9% 

Actions and policy

  • Lifelong training and education for all our employees

  • Safety programme and high safety ladder score

  • Finding work via step2work

  • Social covenant

  • Raising health awareness among employees (e.g. Alliander Fit)

  • Diversity and inclusion: encourage the recruitment of women in leadership positions, members of non-western ethnic groups and people at a distance from the labour market

Our results in 2017

  • Offer 102 apprenticeships to people at a distance from the labour market 

  • 25% of all leadership positions are filled by women

  • Absenteeism percentage of 4.2%

  • CO2 emissions amount to 632 ktonnes

  • Smart meters offered to 535,740 addresses

Impact

Well-being of our employees

*We, at Alliander, mainly contribute to the following SDG sub-targets: 8.2, 8.5 and 8.8

„“GRI Standards – Safe infrastructure & Occupational health and safety (GRI 403), Training and Education (GRI 404), Economic performance (GRI 201)

Ambitions for the coming years

Mindful of the ultimate objective in 2030, we determine what we can contribute in a step-by-step process. Our main focus this year will be to understand the SDGs, set priorities and raise internal awareness of these goals. After establishing what we can contribute and the potential impact, we define and implement our long-term objectives as an integral part of our operations. In doing so, our challenge is to consistently integrate the SDGs into our efforts to realise Alliander's long-term objectives. The SDGs thus serve as a key policy-making and control instrument. We will report on our progress in this area in the coming years.