Enel, the world’s largest renewable energy operator and a global leader in electricity distribution, presents a best practice case in integrating financial and sustainability reporting under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in its 2024 Integrated Annual Report. Enel’s report spans 698 pages, representing a comprehensive disclosure covering operational performance, ESG management, and sustainability-linked financial instruments, demonstrating unprecedented transparency and data richness.
Scale and Market Position
Enel manages approximately 66 GW of renewable energy capacity, including hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal. It serves around 68.5 million end users across Europe, the Americas, and Africa, anchoring its position as a key player in global energy transition. In 2024, Enel’s revenue reached €80.3 billion, with a sustainability-linked bond issuance totaling €3 billion, the largest in the European utilities sector, underpinning the company’s performance incentives linked to ESG metrics.
Decarbonization and Emission Reduction
Enel reported a 49% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions from a 2017 baseline by year-end 2024—a significant improvement surpassing the EU utilities average of 38%. The company’s emission intensity is 78 gCO₂/kWh generated, markedly lower than competitors such as Iberdrola (92 gCO₂/kWh) and EDF (110 gCO₂/kWh), reflecting aggressive renewable capacity expansion.
The clean energy portfolio contributes nearly 90% of Enel’s total generation. Wind and solar production grew by 21% in 2024, with 4.5 GW of new renewable installations commissioned globally. Enel’s coal-fired capacity decreased by 35% over five years, with accelerated phaseouts especially in Southern Europe and Latin America.
Electrification and Grid Modernization
Enel strengthened its grid infrastructure, investing €15 billion in smart grids, electric vehicle (EV) integration, and digital transformation. The company installed more than 1.2 million smart meters in 2024, increasing regional smart meter penetration to 89%, above the European average (75%).
Driving EV adoption, Enel’s charging network grew by 150,000 public chargers worldwide, making it the largest in Europe and Latin America combined. Integrations with renewable energy storage increased grid flexibility and reduced balancing costs by 12%, enhancing sustainable energy utilization.
Water and Waste Management
In water stewardship, Enel reduced freshwater consumption intensity by 22%, reclaiming 28% of used water in cooling and generation processes. Waste generation per GWh decreased 18%, with 84% of waste reused or recycled—leading industry benchmarks.
Social Sustainability and Inclusion
Employee gender balance improved to 45% women globally and 35% in senior management. Enel enhanced local community engagement, investing €350 million in social infrastructure projects and vocational training programs, particularly supporting vulnerable populations in Latin America. The company engaged over 1,500 suppliers in sustainability capacity-building initiatives.
ESG-related incidents remained rare, with a 15% decline in community complaints and environmental violations year-over-year.
Reporting and Assurance
Enel’s 2024 Integrated Report is the first fully aligned with EU CSRD standards, incorporating financial and sustainability data with double materiality principles. The report includes independent assurance on all scope 1, 2, and major scope 3 emission data, water usage, and social KPIs. Enel uses GRI, SASB, CDSB, and TCFD frameworks and provides granular sectoral disclosures supportive of ISSB alignment.
The company publishes interactive online dashboards and discloses risk management linked to climate resilience and transition impacts, reflecting advanced reporting sophistication.
Comparative Metrics
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Renewable energy share: Enel 90%; Iberdrola 87%; EDF 85%
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Emission intensity gCO₂/kWh: Enel 78; Iberdrola 92; EDF 110
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Smart meter penetration %: Enel 89; Enedis 80 (France); National Grid (UK) 68
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EV public chargers deployed: Enel 660,000 Europe + 45,000 Latin America; Tesla 50,000; ChargePoint 15,000
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Water consumption intensity: Enel 2.6 m³/GWh; Iberdrola 3.5; EDF 3.9
Recognition
Enel’s ESG leadership is reflected in top ranks on Sustainalytics, CDP “A List” status for climate and water, and consistent inclusion in Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World. Its integrated reporting model is highlighted by the World Economic Forum as a pathway for utilities transitioning to comprehensive ESG disclosure.
