Apr. 8 – Italy and China have begun cooperating on a smart grid for urban development in the name of sustainability, and to exchange knowledge on the generation of energy from renewable sources. This is now possible thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Beijing between Fulvio Conti, CEO of Enel, and Liu Zhenya, President of State Grid Corporation of China, the largest company in the world for power distribution and transmission, and Chinese leader in the industry. According to Conti, “today’s agreement marks the beginning of an important partnership that recognizes Enel’s potential contribution via its technology and experience, as well as the significant progress made by the State Grid in the field of smart grids and renewable energy. I am confident that our ongoing cooperation will create value and opportunity for all parties involved.” During the visit to the Chinese capital, the CEO also met with Cao Peixi, president of the China Huaneng Group, so as to strengthen and extend the existing collaboration between the two groups. The cooperation framework agreement will be signed in the first half of 2014 and provides for the development of shared technologies, carbon strategy, energy investments and academic exchanges through research foundations. Enel has been present in China since 2004 thanks to a series of projects for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. The Asian country plays a central role in the Group’s strategy for the reduction of emissions, as China welcomes 57% of Enel’s projects.
