ABN A social entrepreneurship program in the energy sector

1. ABN A social entrepreneurship program in the energy sector June 2011 “Every generation needs a new revolution,” Thomas Jefferson wrote towards the end of his illustrious life. 

2. 1) The company profile: social enterprise 2) The ABN social approach 3) The energy sector: the community based model 4) Conclusion

3. Social cooperatives for disadvantaged citizens • Consorzio ABN - a&b social network – is a consortium of cooperatives (social e non-social) established in 1997 through an initiativelaunchedby some italian social cooperatives in the regionof Umbria, in the province of Perugia. • Mission: Consorzio ABN is a no-profit organization which shares integrated strategies in order to achieve objectives related to human promotion and social integration of disadvantaged citizens

4. Figures: employed people • 42 cooperative organizations are part of Consorzio ABN, employing more than 11,000 people. • 50% of the associatedorganizationshave a minimum of30% ofdisadvantagedemployees.

5. Geographical areas • ABN hasgraduallyincreasedits social base and geographicaldiffusion, including 42 cooperative organizations in Italy. In particular: • In the NORTH: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna • In the CENTRE: Toscana, Umbria • In the SOUTH: Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Puglia, Sicilia

6. Certification of environmental management system UNI ENI ISO: 14001 Certification of quality management system: UNI ENI ISO: 9001

7. AXSOA SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY 8000

8. International Certification of quality management system: UNI ENI ISO: 9001

9. Installation and maintenance of electric and solar photovoltaic systems

10. 2 main macro-areas

11. ABN’s sectors Traditonal services Innovative services Cleaning services (public and private sites) Restaurants/cooking Maintenance of green areas Surveillance Administrative services Cemetery services Management of Public libraries and museums Environmental services Waste management Biogas Micro-Photovoltaic energy (1000 roofs scheme) Macro-photovoltaic Micro-wind energy Social Housing Popular shareholding (cooperative CenturlaSociale)

12. Impressive economic growth over the last decade • Consorzio ABN hasbeenabletogroweconomically. In fact, its turnover hasexceed 60mln euros (2010) :

14. Public business – versus – private business • Oneof the mostinterestingaspectsisrelatedto the factthat Consorzio ABN hasbeenabletobecome “independent” from public organizations/institutionsas a source of business.

15. STABLE COLLABORATION WITH MANY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTORS AS WELL AS MAIN ITALIAN BANKS INSTITUTIONS BANKS

16. 1) The company profile: social enterprise • 2) The ABN social approach 3) The energy sector: the community based model 4) Conclusion

17. The community based approach to RES • Renewable energy sources following the social economy approach implies: • Community based models • Reciprocity • Sharing of values • Key words: • Relations, Reciprocity, Gift

18. New Jobs: Access toemploymentfordisabled and disadvantaged people • Consorzio ABN’s organizationshaveadopted a systematicmethodologytopromoteaccessto work fordisabled and disadvantaged people. Green jobs

19. The community based model The community basedmodel can havedifferentapproaches: 1) Ethicalpurchasinggroups (GAS): a system ofpurchasinggoodscollectively 2) Involvementof public organizations: solar bond, solarloan 3) Social business initiatives

20. Social business • Almostall social and economicproblems can beaddressedby social businesses (Muhammad Yunus). • Renewableenergysourcesrepresent a greatopportunityfor society to: • promoteeconomicdevelopment • promoteaccesstoemploymentfordisabled and disadvantaged people (newjobs) • “The challenge is to innovate business models and apply them to produce desired social results cost-effectively and efficiently.” (Muhammad Yunus). • The reference model is the Welfare Community  Social Enterprises play the role of active agents in the development of local communities.

21. ABN as a project developer & integrator • ABN main activity is to initiate, develop, launch and implement energy programs at the community level, in a systematic and innovative way. • ABN through renewable energy sources promotes social integration, job creation and fight against energy poverty

22. The key features of ABN in the energy sector

23. Which technologies…

24. 1) The company profile: social enterprise 2) The ABN social approach 3) The energy sector: the community based model 4) Conclusion

25. PV: A community basedmodel ‘1000 solarroofs’ scheme Distributed “solar power stations” in Umbria, Toscana, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Calabria, Sicilia with full involvement of citizens

26. 1000 solar roofs scheme • "1000 solarroofs“ is a schemelaunched in the regionof Umbria and in otheritalianregions in ordertoinstall 3KWp photovoltaicpanels on private roofs. PV plants are insalledonly on roofs. • Thisschemehasgotanenvironmental impact aswellasaneconomic-social impact asitallowsmanyhomeownersto take advantageof free electricityfor 20 years. • The involvementofcitizenstakesplace through public calls • Project’s parteners are responsiblefor planning, supply, installation, ordinary and non ordinarymaintenance • ABN is the promoter of the scheme and ithascreated a network/partenershipwithlocalauthorities, financialinstitutions, and GRTN

27. 1000 solarroofsscheme - Citizens : Free energy - ABN: Feed-intariff - Local community: + jobs - Environment: - CO2

28. Key figures: Small and medium PV plants already installed and connected

29. Key figures: Large PV plants already installed

30. Work-in progress (2011): small and large plants

31. Stakeholders’ map

32. HOUSING ASSOCIATION & ABN: 20 % FROM EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND: EU/UK based financial intsitutions Citizens in a specific area The ‘Big Society’ Fund/foundation Free energy for 20 years in exchange of FIT and investment Roof access agreement Loan: 80% capital requirement 3) Donation per Kw THE SUN FOR THE COMMUNITY (SPV ): Owners of PV systems SUPPLIER/INSTALLER/OPERATOR (ECP CONTRACTOR) ABN ENERGY COMPANIES PERFORMANCE BOND (10% ) value investment FIT revenue stream SUB Contractors

33. 1000 solar roofs Umbria

35. 5 phases

36. Installation • Installation • Each team is made up of 3 people • Each team can install 2 PV plants per week, and 8 PV plants per month • In each team there is 1 person who is disabled or in disadvantaged conditions

37. PV in TOGO Experimentationoflow-costsolotuionstoprovideenergyfromrenewablesources in ruralareas • Low cost agreement withmanufacturers • Agreement for training initiatives in favouroflocalworforce • Micro-financeactivities

38. 1) The company profile: social enterprise 2) The ABN social approach 3) The energy sector: the community based model • 4) Conclusion

39. The distributed energy power stations. • The power of communities • The importance of developing tools and approaches where communities can become key actors in the RES sector. • Combination of RES and work for disabled/disadvantaged people • It is not easy but it is possible!