The largest drinking water supplier in Flanders, Belgium, is embedding net zero into its long-term capital planning – and already reaping the rewards.
Having achieved significant GHG reduction through sustainable energy use, De Watergroep is now embedding sustainability into capital plans. This includes minimizing new grey infrastructure and accounting for the long-term carbon impact of projects.
De Watergroep is working to be energy-neutral by 2030 and climate-neutral by 2050.
De Watergroep assesses every project to accurately gauge sustainability impacts. For example, the utility uses broad criteria for pipeline investments, including factors such as longevity – saving both money and carbon over the long term.
A whole-of-life carbon perspective informs the environmental benefit analysis of new infrastructure.
“You only have a business in the future if you are sustainable. If we can work on adaptation and mitigation, together, we avoid the increasing need to adapt to even more extremes,” — Hans Goossens, chief executive of De Watergroep
De Watergroep is incorporating sustainability into everyday decision-making and long-term capital planning to prioritize projects that reduce the utility’s current carbon output and the need for new grey infrastructure.
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Energy-neutral by 2030 -
Climate-neutral by 2050 -
Whole-of-life carbon assessments for all projects
