EDP Brasil is developing an integrated methodology to measure and value the impacts and dependencies of ecosystem services related to its activities.

The economic invisibility of natural capital promotes a natural exclusion of risks and opportunities in decision-making processes, and challenges sustainability to find ways and advantages in incorporating this capital in its business management strategies, in response to an emerging problem that restricts financial stability itself.

The valuation and analysis tools for dependencies and business impacts are useful in: optimizing risk management (regulatory, financial, etc.); acquiring benefits (financial, corporate image, access to finance, etc.); and reaching commitments and goals related to biodiversity. In the context of mitigating the impact on biodiversity, these tools contribute to the first step of the mitigation hierarchy for an early decision-making that avoids potential impacts. 

In this way, EDP Brasil is developing an R&D project on biodiversity about the “Environmental Valuation and Analysis of Impact and Dependence of the Electric Sector," with the main objective of developing an integrated methodology to measure and value the impacts and dependencies of the ecosystem services related to their business activities. 

The scope of the study covers the activities of electricity distribution in the state of Espírito Santo and São Paulo, thermal production at Pecém TPP and hydro production at Luiz Eduardo Magalhães Lajeado hydroelectric power plant. The planned actions are divided into three modules to be executed in 2019 and 2020: 

• Module 1: Qualitative/quantitative analysis of risk and dependence of the electric sector;
• Module 2: Valuation of environmental externalities;
• Module 3: Assessment of dependence and risks to operations.  

In 2019, actions were taken to identify the main stakeholders and the dynamics of use of ecosystem services by the business units.