In older facilities a good relationship between the company and the neighbouring population is maintained and in new developments that are in operation or in the design or construction phase, EDP has promoted programmes for listening to, raising awareness and monitoring the local population, and sometimes improving their living conditions.  EDP is particularly committed to extending its facilities with a certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management system to the EMAS Register - Eco Management Audit Scheme, which involves communicating performance to the neighbouring communities, thus strengthening dialogue mechanisms that already exist.

 

EDP has set up a scheme for engaging stakeholders when constructing new hydroelectric plants. That scheme is supplementary to the Environmental Impact Assessment, and it includes a public participation phase prior to the approval of the project by the competent authorities

 

 

 

> Surveys of the local population are underway, associated to power  stations with EMAS registration;

 

> Surveys of local communities in projects in various stages of construction and operation are also underway, to identify expectations and concerns;

 

> The site dedicated to new developments has an area for easy contact with EDP, visit it via this link.

 

 

 

> Matters most relevant to local communities: health, quality of life (including environmental) and employment.

 

 

 

> Site devoted to new power stations, with technical information on production centres, FAQs, news and updated information about them. Visit it via this link.

 

> Power Station Open Days - During the design of projects in the works phase, study visits are organised to power stations at key moments, in a spirit of transparency, education and awareness.

 

> Open Doors – Most of the older EDP power stations have an "Open Doors" policy, especially with reference to the school community. Visits to power stations can be booked here.

 

> Engagement of Local Communities with New Power Stations (COMPRO) - In partnership with CIIS (Centre for Social Research and Intervention of ISCTE university), EDP is implementing a new methodology for relations with institutions and local populations. This initiative includes an internal training course for the challenges associated with public participation, as well as the preparation of a handbook of guidelines for the process of engagement with stakeholders in a context of design and construction of new energy generation facilities.

 

> EDP Solidária – a programme that aims to fund charities in the catchment area of new dams. Candidate projects are selected by a jury of important people of the region (persons of renown and respected by the community). Find out more here.

 

> Establishing partnerships - initiatives focused on social entrepreneurship (local awards, lectures on the subject ...) and cultural galvanisation of the region are launched. Protocols were signed with the following: to support the development of Trás-os-Montes, under the Glocal initiative for job creation, involving the pilot project EDP Sustainable Entrepreneur Premium Programme; with the Aprender a Empreender Association in order to strengthen skills in young secondary school students, with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the National Conservatory School of Music for cultural promotion, aiming to expand the model of the Geração Youth Orchestras.