Other non-financial information

CO₂ and energy

This section provides a detailed review of the energy consumption by Alliander itself and the CO₂-related impacts of operations. The methodology and the conversion factors used are also described.

Energy consumption

Alliander uses 2012 as a reference year for comparison of energy and CO₂ data. The reason for this is that 2012 is the year in which the targets for CO₂-related emissions were formulated. In that year, emissions totalled 761 kilotons of CO₂-eq without a greening policy. Gross emissions in 2021 amounted to 450 kilotons of CO₂-eq (-41% compared to 2012); including greening, our own organisation’s net emissions amounted to 115 kilotons of CO₂-eq.
At least 10% of the electricity consumption of our buildings is fed by renewable electricity we generate ourselves on site. The remaining electricity consumption for buildings is procured. The energy mix of this procurement comprises 49.2% renewable energy production and 50.8% generated from gas. The electricity label for this gives 398g of CO₂/kWh. The entire CO₂ volume is compensated by Guarantees of Origin for wind energy produced in the Netherlands. The Duiven and Arnhem Bellevue offices are moreover practically energy-neutral (at least an A label) and surplus is fed back into the grid. All Alliander offices will meet the A, B or C label criteria by 2023 at the latest.

• 1 In 2018 and 2019, the electricity consumption for our vehicle fleet was accounted for in the consumption for our buildings. This figure is reported on separately as of 2020.

• 1 Source for calorific values and conversion factors: ‘calorische waarde’ (joostdevree.nl)
• 2  The value of the electricity feed-in to the grid is 4.2 GJ.

CO₂-emissions and carbon footprint

A sector-wide uniform emissions standard has been used for the purposes of the section entitled ‘Making the energy supply and our organisation sustainable’. This differs from the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. The figures expressed in CO₂ equivalents in accordance with the GHG Protocol are presented in the following table.

• 1 The CO₂ emissions are calculated in terms of CO₂ equivalents. The main underlying greenhouse gases are methane, SF6 and CO₂ emissions resulting from energy generation from fossil fuels.  
• 2 The net CO₂ emissions figure for 2020 has been recalculated using the most recent emission factors (2020).

Most of the figures included in the tables and graphs in this report are taken from the underlying source systems. Some figures, however, are derived from third-party records or reports. 

Arriving at the carbon footprint and the energy consumption involves making assumptions and estimates. Since 2016, the CO₂ emissions factor for the grid losses has been calculated on the basis of the energy purchased from our suppliers to cover grid losses. The 2020 electricity labels have been used for the 2021 annual report. This gives a figure for the CO₂ coefficient of 0.21743 kg CO₂/kWh. This includes an adjustment of 2% for tank-to-wheel. Of the CO₂ footprint, 62% is attributable to network losses in the electricity infrastructure. From 2020, network operators will be obliged to purchase the natural gas leakage loss over a larger part of the chain. This means that it now represents a much higher proportion of our carbon footprint. Gas leakage losses accounted for 31% of the gross footprint in 2021, compared with 11% in 2019. Gas leakage losses are based on consumption by customers without an energy contract, improper use or theft of gas from the network and the number of kilometres of gas mains in Alliander’s gas network. Cast-iron gas mains have higher leakage losses (322.5m³/km) than the regular PE pipes (55.3m³/km) and therefore higher emissions. The CO₂ equivalent is calculated using a factor of 28 (methane). We reported procurement-related supply chain emissions in 2021 as part of scope 3. These are emissions which take place at our suppliers when making, transporting and delivering services and products. Calculations take place on the basis of key emission figures for each sector multiplied by Alliander’s expenditure in the sector. These emissions are beyond the scope of our climate objectives and form no part of the intensity indicator.

• 1 The net CO₂ emission result for 2020 has been recalculated according to the most recent emission factors (2020).

Our carbon footprint per million euros in revenue has been greatly reduced in recent years through targeted measures.

Transport

The greatest impact Alliander has relates to the activity of distributing energy to end users. This accounts for the following volumes:

The calculated network losses are the end result of the allocation and reconciliation process, in which the difference is calculated for all volumes entering the Liander network less all volumes taken up by end users. The main causes of network losses are losses that occur during transmission (through resistance or other factors), customers who consume electricity without an energy contract, and improper use or theft of electricity from the grid. The total grid losses are finalised using a ‘reconciliation’ process. Meter readings are often estimated and only read at a later time, meaning there is delay in settlement and allocation and it takes a few years for data to be finalised.

To arrive at the energy intensity ratio, Alliander divides its own energy usage in gigajoules (GJ) by its net revenue. This ratio takes into account the gas and electricity consumption of buildings and the fuel consumption of the vehicle fleet. The development of the ratio over a series of years shows the decrease in Alliander’s own energy usage per million euros of net revenue. We saw a reduction in energy consumption due to lower occupancy of our buildings as a consequence of the pandemic.

• * This information is not available by energy type. Where Alliander is concerned, a view is obtained according to energy type for Scope 1 use; the distinction according to energy type for Alliander’s own use is of a far smaller magnitude and impact and is therefore immaterial.

Green gas

The total feed-in of green gas in the area supplied by Alliander during the year 2021 was 59 million m³, a 7% increase compared with 2020. This involved connections to 22 green gas production facilities. The term ‘green gas’ refers to:

• Green gas: bio-SNG, biogas, and landfill gas conditioned and upgraded to natural gas quality. Gas satisfying the definition of gas as a fuel but differing in that it is a product of a fermentation or digestion process. The two main components of biogas are CH₄ and CO₂.

• Landfill gas: gas satisfying the definition of gas as a fuel but differing in that it is a product of the natural processes of decay in a landfill site for waste disposal. The analysis is similar to that of biogas.

• Bio-SNG: SNG – substitute/synthetic natural gas – produced exclusively from biomass.

Crisis organisation

In case of major outages, an internal crisis organisation is mobilised. Within this organisation, staff members of various departments work on-call shifts. Depending on the nature and scale of the incident, when the crisis is over, we set up a case and/or investigation team to assist and ensure the completion of any internal and/or external investigations. All major incidents are evaluated to identify and implement possible improvements.

CSR organisation

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a responsibility that is integral to all parts of the business and is included in the Planning & Control cycle. All the business units perform an analysis of the qualitative and quantitative impacts which their operations have on society. The Management Board has overall responsibility for the economic, ecological and social impact of Alliander. The CSR Manager communicates the policy to the managers of the separate entities and assists the management team in defining quantifiable parameters for monitoring progress. The Management Board and the Supervisory Board liaise with stakeholder representatives. Their presence or representation at regular and ad hoc meetings ensures an active awareness of developments and views regarding strategic topics. See the section of the report covering Interaction with stakeholders for the various social concerns that have been discussed.
The results of the CSR policy are evaluated with the stakeholders. The extent to which stakeholders appreciate the policy that is pursued and the results that are achieved is gauged by such means as customer surveys, employee surveys, shareholders’ meetings, round table meetings and the social reports.

External assurance of the social part of the annual report

Alliander believes it important for its stakeholders to have formal assurance regarding the social part of the annual report. Alliander has received an unqualified assurance report for its 2021 annual report, affording reasonable assurance with respect to the most relevant part of the annual report, namely the principal management variables taken into account by the company (both financial and non-financial).

Alliander has also obtained reasonable assurance in relation to the material aspects of its reporting (materiality test). Additionally, Alliander has received an unqualified assurance report affording limited assurance covering the rest of the social part of the annual report. To guarantee the quality of the social information, Alliander adopts the Three Lines model. The various business units are required to submit social information gathered in connection with the stakeholder dialogue, the materiality test and GRI activities, as well as in other ways. The separate entities form the first line of defence and are responsible for supplying reliable information. The business controllers of each business unit form the second line of defence and ensure that their business submits its information reliably and on time. The business controllers check such things as the basis of the information and the analysis of it by the business itself and prepares a file for the verification carried out by the internal audit department. The internal audit department forms the third line of defence, verifying the social information before it is reviewed by the external auditors. The external auditors form the final link in the verification process and provide ultimate assurance, as expressed in the report.

Additional information