Electricity and renewables: powering climate performance
Overview of corporate climate performance using the CIA methodology
At the heart of the energy transition, companies in the electricity sector occupy a strategic position. Whether they produce, transmit or distribute electricity, they must actively contribute to the decarbonization of their sector. They are also an important driver of decarbonization in other sectors such as transport, real estate and industry, by enabling the electrification of certain applications that currently rely on fossil fuels (oil and gas).
Regulatory and societal pressure, the rise of renewable energies and the volatility of fossil fuel prices expose electricity producers that are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, particularly coal, to major transition risks.
The ranking of the analyzed sample reflects companies' ability to adapt to these challenges. The highest-rated companies are those that favor renewable energies and low-carbon production sources over fossil fuels (coal, fuel oil, gas).
Globally, the integration of renewable energies is well underway, with strong growth in solar and wind power. However, regional disparities remain: in Asia, the challenge posed by soaring electricity demand is accompanied by the continued use of coal in the energy mix of many countries. Although its share is declining, it remains the dominant source of production on the continent, accounting for nearly 40% of the mix. In contrast, Europe and North America have significantly reduced the contribution of coal to their energy mix over the past two decades, turning to gas, and particularly shale gas in the United States, to meet demand.
Decarbonizing the sector cannot be achieved without the involvement of network operators. For these players, the transition brings technical and technological challenges: the intermittent nature of renewable energies requires the implementation of flexibility and storage solutions, such as the development of batteries. In addition, electricity losses on the grid and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) leaks represent a major challenge for companies involved in electricity transmission and distribution.
