Business

Energy generated from sources that by their very nature are replenished or cannot be depleted in the foreseeable future of humankind is classified as “renewable energy”.
The use of renewable energy does not jeopardise natural resources for future generations (unlike traditional energy sources, which are not renewable and will eventually run out, such as oil, natural gas and coal). The classification of energy sources is often inconsistent and often the term “alternative energy” is used because the sources are “different” from “traditional” or “conventional” ones.
Therefore, “renewable energy sources” are usually considered to be: the sun (thermal and photovoltaic solar energy), wind (wind power), the sea (tidal power), the heat of the Earth (geothermal energy) and water (hydroelectric power).

At present, ERG, through its subsidiary ERG Renew, produces electricity from wind energy; this is produced and converted on its wind farms in France (of which there are six, providing a total capacity of 64 MW) and in Italy (providing a total capacity of 484 MW), giving a total installed capacity of 548 MW. ERG Renew is also participating in a next generation solar power (so called organic photovoltaics) research and development project.

Wind farms consist of wind-power generators that can transform the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy, which is used in turn to generate electricity.

As a result of the new organisation of the Group (see the press release of 28 January 2010), the Refining & Marketing sector now includes the activities of Coastal Refining and Integrated Downstream.