Page 19 - Infinity Power Sustainability Report 2024
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19        INFINITY POWER            2024 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT   |   PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT










                 Project lifecycle impacts                                                                 Responsible water use
                                                                                                                                                                                                              Water used and withdrawn                                                                 Water intensity

                 We consider the environmental impact of our projects                                      Water management remains important across our
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2.5
                 at every stage - from design and construction to                                          predominantly arid operating regions. Water use
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3.75        0.15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2                                              1.76
                 operation and decommissioning. Our wind and solar                                         is typically higher at our solar sites, where it’s needed

                 projects are built to last 20-25 years, and while none                                    to clean solar panels and ensure equipment works                                                  2023                            3.90                                                       1.5

                 have reached the end of their life yet, we continue to                                    efficiently. Solar panels are dry cleaned each                                                                                                                                                 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        0.95
                 explore new ways to reuse materials and improve the                                       month, with wet cleaning rationed to twice a year                                                                                                                                           0.5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7.01                      0.03
                 circularity of resources.                                                                 to conserve water.                                                                                                                                                                            0


                                                                                                                                                                                                             2024                                           7.04                                                        2023                           2024

                 The most significant environmental impact of our                                          In 2024, our water use increased, particularly for our wind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Litres of water used per MWh of energy generated

                 wind and solar assets is raw material extraction and                                      assets due to remedial work at our West Bakr wind farm                                                                                                                                          On average, 1,400 litres of water are used per MWh in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           South Africa’s electricity system, primarily through the
                 processing. Solar panels rely on energy-intensive                                         in Egypt. Despite this, we implemented water-saving                                                   Wind projects     Solar projects                                                          cooling process for thermal power stations.

                 materials including polysilicon and critical metals, often                                initiatives across several other wind farms, recognising                                           ( million litres)

                 produced in coal-powered regions such as China, while                                     the operational challenges specific to each site. This

                 wind turbines require substantial concrete and steel.                                     includes an innovative waste-water treatment solution

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Avoided water use
                 These materials face growing supply chain instability,                                    at Kangnas and Perdekraal East wind farms in South

                 and we are working to reduce risks by diversifying                                        Africa (see right).                                                                                                                                                                         3200

                 suppliers and exploring designs that use fewer materials
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3,006
                 without reducing performance.                                                             Our South African operations avoided close to 3 million                                                                                                                                     3000

                                                                                                              3
                                                                                                           m  of water compared with traditional methods of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2,957
                 After construction, we aim to reuse materials in local                                   energy generation. That’s around 1,200 Olympic-sized                                                                                                                                         2800

                 community projects, turning leftover parts into valuable                                 swimming pools of water saved in a country where

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2600
                 resources. This supports Africa’s emerging circular                                      regional water scarcity can be significant.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2023                           2024
                 economy and the African Circular Economy Alliance’s

                 2024 strategy to prioritise resource efficiency in the                                   In total, our water use increased significantly this year,                                                                                                                                        Water use avoided (million litres)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           This number only measures water use avoided from our electricity
                 energy sector. According to the International Renewable                                  from 3.90 to 7.04 million litres of water withdrawn. This
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           generation in South Africa, as the average water consumption
                 Energy Agency (IRENA), up to 90% of turbine materials                                    was largely due to remedial works at our West Bakr wind                                                                                                                                          figures for electricity in Egypt and Senegal are unavailable.

                 and 95% of solar panel components, could be recycled                                     farm in Egypt where we moved several access roads

                 and reused.                                                                              as part of the final site completion and restoration.

                                                                                                          Excluding the remedial works at West Bakr, our water use

                                                                                                          remained stable at 3.80 million litres in 2024, compared

                                                                                                          to 3.90 million litres in 2023.
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