EDP Renováveis (Euronext: EDPR), the world's fourth largest producer of renewable energy, has invested about R$ 13 million in social projects in Brazil. This investment supported more than 20 thousand residents in towns near its projects in the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul. These initiatives aim to contribute to the educational, cultural, and social development of the local communities where EDPR operates.

EDPR's corporate social responsibility strategy is based on three fundamental principles: respect for human and labor rights throughout the value chain, contributing to society and, lastly, promoting access to energy for all.

At EDPR, we will continue to work to further support the development of the communities around us, in order to improve the quality of life of the families who live in them and ensure a positive legacy for future generations”, comments Duarte Bello, COO of Europe and Latin America of EDP Renováveis.

EDP Renováveis Rural

This project, created in 2016 and aims to generate work for residents by monitoring and qualifying beneficiaries to manage social technologies in the context of rural family farming. Since creationist launching, the program has contributed with more than R$ 6 million, benefiting 26 communities and 826 local producers, through the implementation of 83 social technologies.

With a focus on continuing to encourage agriculture and entrepreneurship among local communities, the 2021 edition covered the municipalities of Touros, Lajes, Pedra Preta, São Tomé, and Cerro Corá/RN, and included several social technologies, such as the installation and recovery of wells for capturing underground water, cisterns, demonstrative units for basic sanitation and water reuse, in addition to dozens of training courses and technical assistance aimed at rural producers.

To disclosure this program, EDPR developed a 5-episode miniseries, “Wind Tales”, where some of the beneficiaries of this program tell their own stories.

Closer2You

The Closer2You project aims to increase the quality of life in local communities, essentially by improving community spaces. In 2021, the project worked on the renovation of the Professor Paulo José de Brito Municipal School in the Nova Conquista settlement, in the municipality of Pedro Avelino, state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The renovation included the construction of a wall, bringing safety to the students and peace of mind to the teachers. It also included the renovation of the electrical structure, several repairs, and the creation of a recreational area for students. The school serves about 40 students from the 1st to the 5th grade and, in addition, serves as medical center for the 63 families in the settlement.

EDP nas Escolas

EDP nas Escolas is a program that integrates the entire school community. Coordinated by the EDP Institute and sponsored by EDP Renováveis, the initiative's goal is to contribute to improve the quality of life of elementary school students from public schools, providing tools for student learning, increasing the participation of the school community and mobilizing partners for the cause of education. The training of teachers and extracurricular activities for students are some of the activities involved in the program.

In its almost 15 years of investments, the program has partnered with more than 165 schools, 18.4 thousand students and more than 1.4 thousand teachers in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Bahia, and in cities with EDPR projects.

More than R$ 3 million were invested between 2016 and 2021, and since the beginning of the EDP nas Escolas program, 77% of the participating schools have maintained or improved their Basic Education Development Index (IDEB in Portuguese).

Tax incentive projects

With regard to incentive projects supported by EDPR, the company uses tax waiver resources from various government bodies to carry out various projects in communities near its parks, particularly the Federal Laws of Incentive to Culture and Sports, the Fund for the Elderly and the Fund for Children and Adolescents and, since 2018, more than 3 million have been invested in these projects.