EDP transforms 20,000 tons of forest waste into clean energylimpa

Through the ReEarth initiative, which promotes the cleaning and enhancement of forest land, EDP has already supported more than 130 rural landowners, which will enable 260 hectares of forest to be cleaned and around 20,000 tons of waste to be collected by the end of the year.

EDP has launched the ReEarth program to promote forest cleaning and protection by collecting biomass and converting this waste into clean energy for municipal public utilities. This initiative reflects EDP’s commitment to biodiversity preservation and is part of a broader effort involving nature conservation projects developed in collaboration with local communities to create a positive, lasting impact.

One year after the program’s launch in the Boticas region, ReEarth has already supported more than 130 landowners who have chosen to protect the forest. This initiative has not only contributed to the conservation of local ecosystems but also helped boost the local economy and revitalize the town of Boticas. As a result, over 260 hectares—an area equivalent to 260 soccer fields—are being restored. By the end of the year, it is estimated that approximately 20,000 tons of waste will have been collected and converted into clean energy.

Every year around 3 million hectares burn around the world, and in Portugal the annual burned area is around 100,000 hectares, a significant problem with high social and environmental costs for our planet, including the loss of forests, fauna and flora, the release of CO₂ or the destruction of infrastructure, as well as contributing to worsening poverty and increasing inequality.

Through this initiative, EDP not only contributes to reducing the risk of fire by protecting the forest by clearing rural land, but also supports low-income farmers and smallholders - especially in areas of high forest density - by rewarding them and reusing forest waste to heat municipal infrastructure.

ReEarth is part of the EDP Y.E.S - You Empower Society strategy, the group's global social impact plan which foresees a total investment of 300 million euros by 2030 to support more than 500 social responsibility projects in various locations. Through this strategy, the company seeks to contribute to improving the living conditions of communities, especially people in situations of greater vulnerability and social exclusion.

To find out more about the ReEarth initiative, visit EDP's website here.