renew Energy without limits โ ข october | november 2012
EDPR 2012
Annual Meetings
On Target John Yorston, manages Quality, Health and Safety, and Environment for the Offshore Wind project in the UK
Online 24 hours in the life of Lourenรงo Vasconcelos e Sรก, Senior Manager of Investments and M&A
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renew Energy without limits • october | november 2012
In September and October, EDPR employees from each platform gathered together in their respective headquarters EDPR 2012
for one of the most exciting events of the year: the Annual
Annual Meetings
On Target John Yorston, manages Quality, Health and Safety, and Environment for the Offshore Wind project in the UK
Meeting. A time to grow and celebrate! Online 24 hours in the life of Lourenço Vasconcelos e Sá, Senior Manager of Investments and M&A
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Warsaw, Poland: learn more about where EDP has a presence.
2012 Annual Meetings The Annual Meeting incorporates the perfect blend of business and leisure: a day of professional development and personal enjoyment. It has adopted creative guidelines and the tagline “We are EDP,” which illustrates the company’s emphasis on human capital and the importance on fostering team spirit.
14 onpeople Meet Ryan Brown, Senior Project Development Manager.
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Lourenço Vasconcelos e Sá
Information Security: tips to help you in your daily life.
Lourenço recently joined the EDPR team on April, 2012, and has been applying everything he knows about managing projects and investments since then. He loves working with EDPR´s young and dynamic team that has a strong appetite for business development and the build-up of the operation.
16 ontime Cristina Cano, Head of HR Organizational Department.
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ontarget John Yorston’s targets
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John Yorston, the Offshore Head of Quality, Health and Safety, and Environment, is currently working in the UK in the offshore wind industry. This is a risky and dangerous sector as well as new territory for EDPR. John is committed to ensuring the company takes the appropriate preventative measures to handle these risks and activities.
EDPR’s most important news.
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onchange Cristina Alvarez Born and raised in Madrid, Cristina took the opportunity to immerse herself into a different country and culture by accepting a transfer to EDPR´s North American in Houston. She describes her experience as extremely rewarding personally and professionally.
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Warsaw CITY OF CULTURE
Learn more about the places where EDP Group is present
Not to be missed 1. Old Town Completely leveled by the Nazis in 1944, the Old Town of Warsaw was meticulously restored using old photographs and architects’ drawings to recreate an exact replica of what had stood before. Stone was even taken from other Polish medieval cities in a mammoth rebuilding project that was mostly completed within a five year period; 2. Pierogi, First boiled, and then baked or fried in butter with onions, Pierogi are delicious dumplings traditionally stuffed with potato filling, sauerkraut, ground meat, cheese or fruit; 3. Nowy Swiat, When speaking of Warsaw, Nowy Swiat (literally, New World)
always finds its way into the conversation. This second part of the Royal Way is one of many Varsovian charms. It is historically known as the street where nobility built their manors and palaces. Once Warsaw grew wealthier, an abundance of monumental constructions erected, rivaling that of the king´s own domicile. In addition to its historical merit, Nowy Swiat has acquired much well deserved attention as a popular attraction for recreation and shopping. It is lined up with boutique restaurants, bars and stores where you´ll find the cream of Warsaw on any given day. 4. Łazienki Park, Is the largest park in Warsaw, occupying 76 hectares of the city center.
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G EO G R A PH I C A L DATA : COUNTRY: Poland CAPITAL: Warsaw Inhabitants: 1,720,398 residents within a greater metropolitan area of 2,666,278 residents, making Warsaw the 6th most populous city proper in the European Union
GET TO KNOW Have you ever been in Warsaw? Take the unique opportunity to visit the highlights of this city, feel the spirit and its atmosphere, taste its famous Pierogi and understand its complex history. Explore some remains of the pre-war city and compare it with the monumental post-war communist constructions…and of course experience the night life of Warsaw, make sure to enjoy its bars and have a taste of the best Polish beer or a shot of Polish vodka! Warsaw is a city with many faces where tradition meets modernity. From the terrace on Zamkowy Square where the Royal Castle and St. Anne’s Church are located, there is a view of the new ĝZLĊWRNU]\VNL Bridge. The dominating silhouette of the city centre belongs to the Palace of Culture and Science, which today shares the city skyline with numerous office towers. You can feel the breath of history in the Old Town, on Nowy Swiat Street and everywhere that the city´s roots have been preserved. Also, you can’t miss a walk in Łazienki Park and palace. This royal palace and delightful park is a popular retreat for Warsaw’s tower block inhabitants, the park buzzes with life on the weekends and summer evenings. The highlight of a trip to the park is a visit to the magnificent 17th century ‘Palace on the Water’, built as a Polish royal residence. Look out for the famous monument to Chopin, perhaps Poland’s most famous son (after Pope John Paul II).
CURIOSITIES The National Stadium is the most important Polish State investment in connection with the Finals Tournament of UEFA EURO 2012™. It constitutes a PLN 2 billion State investment (two-and-a-half times more than any of the other three stadiums) and is located in the centre of Warsaw, by the Vistula river. Five tournament matches were played there: three in the group stage, including the opening match following the opening ceremony, a quarter-final, and a semi-final. The National Stadium was inaugurated on 29th February 2012 where Poland failed to rise to the occasion in the first match after battling out a 0-0 draw with fellow Euro 2012 quarter finalists Portugal.
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Joaquim Barbosa from the Financial Planning and Control Department at EDP Renováveis Poland invites all Group Employees to visit his city of residency. As a Lisbon native, he considers living in Warsaw to be a unique experience taking into account its extensive history and wide range of cultural programs. During his free time he gets together with his Polish and international friends, enjoys the cultural life and plays golf whenever the cold weather allows it…
JOAQUIM BARBOSA
PALACE OF CULTURE AND SCIENCE The tallest building in Poland was given to the nation as a gift from Stalin in 1951. For this reason it remains deeply unpopular among the older residents of the city, although those from younger generations have accepted the Palace of Culture and Science as the most instantly recognizable landmark of Warsaw.
EATING If you believe that a good way to get to know a place is by eating its food and regional dishes, then the best choice you can make is eating out in Warsaw. Being a capital city, it has many restaurants, from traditional polish restaurants to great international cuisine eateries. Warsaw has come a long way and fast. Nowhere is the urban vibrancy more apparent than in the city’s progressive culinary scene. The immediate post-communist obsession with Italian culture/cuisine has since given way to fusion, sushi and - most recently – steak. Dining out is now a truly international experience.
LODGING: ROYAL MERIDIEN BRISTOL HOTEL The construction of the hotel started in April 1899 and was finished in April 1900. On the 19th of November 1901, the hotel welcomed its first visitors. During The Second World War, many high ranking German officials stayed at the Bristol. In 1944 Hitler gave orders for the city of Warsaw to be destroyed but the Bristol by some stroke of luck was left standing and recognizable - an island in a sea of ruins. In 1997 it was ranked 38 in a list of top 100 hotels world-wide.
EDP IN WARSAW Employees: 36 Headquarters: Ulica Postepu, 17B, Warsaw Windfarms: 2 or 190 MW (Margonin120MW, the biggest in Poland; Korsze – 70 MW)
OPERA IN WARSAW Opera was brought to Poland only twenty years after it first appeared in Florence, by Royal Prince Ladislaus IV Vasa, who in 1628 invited the first Italian opera troupe to Warsaw. Opera is part of every Varsovian’s day to day life, so if you are also an opera lover, you can’t miss a great play in the Grand Theatre in— National Opera (Polish: Teatr Wielki—Opera Narodowa), a theatre complex and opera company located in the historic Theatre Square. The theatre was inaugurated on February 24, 1833, with a production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. After the building’s bombing and near-complete destruction in World War II, the theatre was rebuilt, and the building reopened on November 19, 1965, after having been closed for over twenty years.
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EDPR 2012 ANNUAL MEETINGS:
A TIME TO GROW AND CELEBRATE IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, EDPR EMPLOYEES FROM EACH PLATFORM GATHERED TOGETHER IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HEADQUARTERS FOR ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING EVENTS OF THE YEAR: THE ANNUAL MEETING!
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he Annual Meeting is not your conventional corporate event; it incorporates the perfect blend of business and leisure: a day of professional development and personal enjoyment. It has adopted creative guidelines and the tagline “We are EDP,” the universal theme across the whole EDP Group, which illustrates the company’s emphasis on human capital and the importance on fostering team spirit. It has become an EDPR tradition replicated in both the European and North American platforms. With one step into the elegantly adorned red, black and white ballroom, employees were overwhelmed with a sense of pride for EDPR and suspense for what was to come. From its decor to its perks, the EDPR brand and company culture were evident every step of the way throughout both events in Madrid and Houston.
LET´S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS The Annual Meetings each offered several inspiring presentations by EDPR’s top management including a warm welcome from EDPR´s CEO João Manso Neto. He motivated attendees by saying “We must know our strength,” urging them to look to the future and seek improvement. In Madrid, Europe COO João Paulo Costeira spoke about the upcoming
objectives and challenges in each country in which EDPR is present. He offered several forecasted numbers and insisted employees believe in the company and its future. While in Houston, North America COO Gabriel Alonso spoke about the future goals of the EDPR NA platform and addressed PTC concerns. He also announced EDPR North America´s commitment to building solar in 2013. Rafael Munilla and John Mi gave informative presentations in Madrid and Houston respectively, regarding renewables as the solution and its prominent role in the future. These presentations were followed by a Q&A session directed by an Executive Panel Committee consisting of João Manso Neto, João Paulo Costeira, Gabriel Alonso and Rui Teixeira. They opened the floor for questions, which was an insightful experience for everyone. The panel was a key moment in each meeting, where the Executive Committee demonstrated their accessibility to all employees. They addressed the employees´ concerns and were highly informative and sincere in their responses. Each Country Manager and the Executive Vice Presidents of EDPR North America also had the opportunity to address the audience of both meetings through short videos. Each spoke of the current v
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challenges faced in the market as well as the goals for the future in their respective countries. TIME TO UNWIND Both events welcomed its guests with a photocall session at the entrance where a photographer was ready to take pictures of attendees in front of an EDPR backdrop. Inspired by modern-day craze with vintage photography, there was a twist to this photocall session in Madrid! The photos were taken with a Polaroid camera allowing attendees to receive their old fashioned and quirky photos instantly. Check out some of these fun Polaroids on EDPR EU´s Intranet, and take some time to upload
yours! Meanwhile in Houston, attendees were provided with a variety of humorous props such as goofy hats, glasses and fake lips to take their fun photos which are found on EDPR NA´s Intranet. The Annual Meeting in Houston also featured a variety of themed American Game Show skits including “Family Feud;” “Know Your Drone,” a spoof of “The Newlywed Game;” and “How Much Do You Know About the U.S.?” These skits added a touch of humor to the event and were positively received by all attendees. Finally, after a long day of learning and talking business, employees were able to unwind! They enjoyed a delectable three-course meal followed by fun and dancing in a ballroom embellished in corporate colors.
Satisfaction Survey EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
Overall, how would you describe this year´s Annual Meeting?
Overall, how would you describe this year´s Annual Meeting ?
Response percent
Response count
Excellent
18,6%
16
Excellent
44,3%
58
Very good
34,9%
30
Very good
49,6%
65
Good
40,7%
35
Good
3,8%
5
Fair
5,8%
5
Fair
2,3%
3
Poor
0,0%
0
Poor
0,0%
0
Response Response count percent
What was your favorite moment of the Annual Meeting? Top Answers from EDPR Europe and North America: • Executive presentations • Time to interact with colleagues and meet new people within the company!
EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
How would you rate the quality of the content presented?
How did this year´s Annual Meeting compare to previous Annual Meetings?
Response percent
Response count
Better
28,2%
24
Better
53,4%
70
Worse
17,6%
15
Worse
0,8%
15
Same
28,2%
24
Same
13,0%
17
25,9%
22
It was my first Annual Meeting
32,8%
43
It was my first EDPR Annual Meeting
Response Response count percent
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This year, EDPR chose three of their own in Europe and North America to present at the Annual Meetings. The presenters chosen were: Jacinta Carvalho (Europe), Stephen Dictor (Europe) and Tommy Greer (North America). Each presenter added great energy to the event, translating a little bit of their lively personalities to the audience!
“This year´s Annual Meeting was a combination of a personal, and massively thrilling experience, an immense pleasure and a great honor!” Jacinta Carvalho, Corporate Development, Europe
“The Annual Meeting this year was especially rewarding, despite the extra time we had to put in to prepare. We were able to have fun backstage and engage with the rest of the people involved in producing the meeting. It definitely was an overall positive experience!” Stephen Dictor, Senior Manager in Wind Turbine Procurement, Europe
“It truly was a team effort from start to finish. We really just set out to make sure that all the employees had fun and that they left the Annual Meeting with a sense of pride about working at EDPR.” Tommy Greer, Origination Senior Manager, North America
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“I´m new to the company, so it was a great opportunity for me to learn about different business perspectives.” Luis Fernando Barros, Head of Project Management & Development, Brazil
“Being a part of the Annual Meeting was a remarkable experience. I saw new and different sides of my coworkers and feel more connected to my company.” Johnny Casana, Project Developer, North America
“In the five and a half years I have worked for EDP Renewables NA, this has been the best meeting yet with actual interacting with one another and the “EDPR spirit” in the knowledge of the employees with the company, backgrounds and the fun.” La Keisha Alix, Accounts Payable Associate, North America
“The Annual Meeting is a great way of bringing all our viewpoints together.” José Enrique Rodríguez Plaza, Consolidation, Administration and Tax Europe
“All of the presentations were very informative. The Annual Meeting is a great place to get more visibility on where the company is headed. I appreciate the company’s transparency and open communication.” Suzi Asmus, Project Manager, North America
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“It was nice to finally meet all of the great people I work with each day. The meeting was a great reminder that even though our main focus at EDPR is to be profitable, we are still doing this for a much bigger purpose, which is to protect our planet and provide clean renewable energy for the world.” Brodie Dockendorf, Operations Manager, North America
“The good thing is that you can meet people who you don´t usually get in touch with!” Gorka Apraiz, Mergers and Acquisitions, Europe
“On the flight home from the EDP Renewables NA Annual Meeting, I was happily reflecting on what a great reminder those two days were and of why we all believe so deeply in wind energy!” Michelle Graham, Operations Administrator, North America
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online 2 4 hour s in the li f e of ...
24 hours
LOURENÇO VASCONCELOS E SÁ Senior Manager of Investments and M&A
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As Senior Manager of the Investments and Mergers & Acquisitions team for EDPR, Lourenço de Vasconcelos e Sá has several responsibilities that are imperative to the profitable growth and the future of EDPR. His main focus is the execution of investment transactions involving solar technology as well as being responsible for the analysis and closing of opportunities for EDPR´s entrance into new markets. Prior to EDPR, Lourenço developed an extensive background in consulting while working for prestigious firms such as Andersen and Deloitte & Touche. After completing his MBA at INSEAD, he moved into the investment banking sector and began working with JPMorgan where he gained additional experience for a number of years. Lourenço joined EDPR this year and thus far describes it as a very positive experience. “The environment is outstanding. The accessibility to everyone in the company, including senior management is easy and informal. Overall, the quality and background of all the people I interact with on a daily basis is truly exceptional”, says Lourenço. On his spare time, Lourenço enjoys going to the gym and practicing sports, especially off-road motorcycling, skiing and sailing, all of which he has been practicing since an early age.
Lourenço recently joined the EDPR team on April 2012, and has been applying everything he knows about managing projects and investments since then. He loves working with EDPR´s young and dynamic team that has a strong appetite for business development and the build-up of the operation.
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Arriving in Madrid
Arrives at work
Gets started
Lourenço arrives from a meeting abroad and heads to the office.
Lourenço arrives at the EDPR Madrid office.
Lourenço begins his workday by making some phone calls and organizing his tasks for the day.
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Coffee break
Conference call
Lunch
Enjoys his coffee break while chatting with his fellow colleague.
Conference call to discuss upcoming projects in new markets.
Lourenço enjoys his lunch break at VIPs.
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Meeting
Leaving the office
Working out
Department meeting to update the team on the current projects’ status.
Lourenço leaves the office on his motorcycle.
Lourenço ends his day with a work out to stay fit and healthy!
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onpeople Get to know your colleagues better
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RYAN BROWN SENIOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
orn and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, Ryan Brown received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago. Ryan joined EDPR NA in February 2008 and focused on project development in the states of Indiana and Ohio. In November 2010, Ryan and his family relocated to Toronto, Ontario, helping EDPR launch into Canada. Prior to joining the organization, Ryan worked in Corporate Finance for Deutsche Bank; taught English and volunteered in Mexico and Ecuador; and was a manager at the Indiana State Energy Office for four years. He says people are always curious how he ended up in Mexico. “Studying in Europe during college whetted our appetites for travel, and so after getting married, my wife and I quit our jobs and bought one way tickets to Mexico,” Ryan explains. “We ended up teaching, volunteering and traveling in Latin America (Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru) for nearly
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two years. It was in South America that I became interested in energy issues.” Currently, Ryan manages EDPR Canada’s project and business development initiatives. His role requires a wide range of activities from doing helicopter site visits in mountainous British Columbia, to conducting landowner meetings and project acquisitions in Ontario, to trying to understand what is going on in Quebec without having French language training, to visiting Vulcan, Alberta, home to a large replica of the USS Enterprise and the Star Trek museum. “Live long and prosper,” he laughs. “There is never a dull moment.” Ryan explains that each of the ten Canadian provinces acts as its own country when it comes to power procurement and regulations. This combined with being a relatively new business in a new country and working in a remote office managing team members in multiple time zones
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creates unique challenges. Despite the challenges, however, Ryan is enthusiastic about his role at EDPR Canada. “I really enjoy working with such a committed and diverse group of people,” he said. “We put in a lot of long hours and spend a lot of time traveling together, and working with such a great people makes it worth it.” Seeing wind become more of a mainstream power generation resource has been an inspiration to Ryan. “When I first started in clean energy in 2004 in Indiana, I was laughed out of the room by coal focused utility colleagues,” said Ryan. “Those same companies have all since signed wind power purchase agreements. We still have a long way to go in North America, but it is great to see things moving in the right direction.” When not developing projects, Ryan enjoys cycling, traveling, and chasing his six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter around the vibrant city of Toronto.
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Guilherme Guerra Degree in Dental Medicine from the Institute of Health Sciences, a member of the Academy of Osseointegration. Participated in several courses, conferences and seminars for additional continued training as a speaker and as a congressman.
Ti ps to help you in y ou r d a ily lif e
Oral hygiene. When one does not have good oral health one is not in perfect health. The cheapest form of treatment is always prevention. Here are some tips for you to always have a healthy mouth.
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Controlling plaque is the key to a healthy mouth!
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Brush your teeth properly at least twice a day, taking care to pass the bristles of the brush not only over the teeth but also close to the gums.
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Toothbrushes should be changed whenever the bristles lose their original shape and orientation.
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Use a toothbrush with soft or medium hardness bristles.
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Use uoride toothpaste. It is an effective and economical way to prevent tooth decay.
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The interdental spaces must be cleaned, so you should use dental oss regularly.
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In areas where interdental spaces are too large, it is recommended the use interdental brushes.
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Eat a healthy diet and avoid using too much sugar.
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You should visit your dentist / hygienist routinely. At these routine visits every 6 months, your dentist may detect early onset of cavities, as well as other oral health problems.
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Whenever you feel any problem in your mouth, you should immediately see your dentist.
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Cristina Cano, Head of HR Organizational Department
Cristina Cano visits EDPR´s North American platform on a three month assignment to consolidate Human Resources Department´s best practices. This assignment has been a learning experience for Cristina, both professionally and personally.
This year, Cristina Cano embarked on a human resources mission in Houston. She went with several goals in mind including sharing and combining HR´s best practices as well as the adaptation of transversal HR projects to the reality of the business in North America.
WHY? From the area of development of HR, global HR processes are defined and planned and finally, the results are analyzed and consolidated. These processes must be defined in alignment with the business and the characteristics of each country in order to ensure it adds value to the managers and employees. Ultimately, it is a necessity for a company such as EDPR that has such a high presence in various parts of the world. Thus, such processes are created in accordance with EDPR’s strategy and under EDP’s direction; however it is fundamental to understand the business needs and the context of the various countries in which EDPR operates in.
Cristina’s stay in Houston allowed her to gain an in depth look into the methods of EDPR’s HR Department in North America. It gave her perspective on the way the company operates in a different platform, ideas of how to unify the practices and remain consistent across platforms utilizing only the most efficient practices.
BENEFITS? Such a project provided special benefits for EDPR as a whole as well as the Human Resources department. According to Cristina, this assignment was an enriching experience in which she would undoubtedly recommend it be replicated across platforms and departments. One of the best aspects of her time in Houston was being able to work in collaboration with distinct platforms on the same project in order to achieve a common goal and optimize the best practices. The vision, integration and participation of each platform play an essential role 16 onrenew
in enhancing projects. Cristina claims her experience in North America has confirmed how important it is to involve all parties in order to ensure the success of a certain project.
PERSONAL GROWTH For Cristina, her three months in Houston were not only an opportunity for professional development but also one for personal growth. She was immediately welcomed into the North American team, allowing for a smooth transition from her previous work environment. She was able to immerse herself into a new culture, participate and share her work with an exceptional team. Cristina believes this has been an overall positive experience that has allowed her to understand and open her mind to new perspectives and new opportunities. In Cristina’s words, “Houston is a city where I felt welcomed from day one, and of course, I took advantage and enjoyed its famous barbecues!”
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ontarget JOHN YORSTON, manages Quality, Health and Safety, and Environment for the Offshore Wind project in the UK
• Commitment to safety in the Offshore wind industry • Raise safety standards in the industry and become the model company for these standards • Work with colleagues in the industry toward a common goal of health and safety
John Yorston, the Offshore Head of Quality, Health and Safety, and Environment, is currently working in the UK in one of EDPR´s newest industries, the offshore wind industry. Offshore wind is a risky and dangerous sector as well as new territory for EDPR. John is committed to ensuring the company takes the appropriate preventative measures to handle these risks and activities. Thus, EDPR recently signed a contract to demonstrate its commitment to working with key players in the offshore wind industry and to continuously improve the safety record of both EDPR and the industry as a whole. The contract is a voluntary agreement for EDPR to conduct their business with certain
values and principles, which they share with other companies who have also agreed to sign the contract. By signing this contract, EDPR released a public statement of the company´s willingness to engage, lead, learn, share and ultimately achieve excellence in the health and safety performance of their activities. Activities involved in offshore wind development, construction and operations have lead to various injuries and fatalities. However, according to John, many of these calamities could be prevented. It is possible to work in this industry safely, and ultimately this is EDPR´s goal in signing the contract. EDPR is taking on this venture as a fresh challenge; however they are aware 18 onrenew
that their colleagues in the industry are facing similar challenges. With this contract, EDPR aims to help its colleagues achieve this common goal of security. Ultimately, EDPR would like the offshore wind industry to have the best safety record of all energy industries, with EDPR leading in the market. This is a unique contract in its industry, in which EDPR has set an example in the UK by being one of the first to commit. EDPR is demonstrating to its staff, colleagues, the public and investors that EDPR considers health and safety to be of utmost importance. EDPR has set out to raise the standards required for working in offshore wind industry, by working toward improvements with other players in the industry.
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onchange Employees with the courage to change
CRISTINA ALVAREZ 33 years old Internal Audit Manager
A true learning experience BORN AND RAISED IN MADRID, CRISTINA ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE OF MOVING TO EDPR´S NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN HOUSTON. SHE SAYS IT HAS BEEN A TRULY REWARDING EXPERIENCE THAT SHE WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE IN THE COMPANY.
ristina Alvarez, born and raised in Madrid, took the opportunity to immerse herself into a different country and culture by accepting a transfer to EDPR´s North American headquarters in Houston. She embarked on an intimidating quest when she made the decision to leave her home country. She describes her experience as extremely rewarding personally and professionally. Arriving in Houston, she was shocked at the immense distances and the necessity of a car to get around. In Madrid, she was accustomed to walking most places including restaurants, the cinema or the supermarket. It was one of the most difficult things to adapt to in her new life. She enjoys going for a walk from time to time and it is something that is very rare for people in Houston. As she said, “You take your car to do everything!” Earlier in her career, Cristina worked in Boston for two years and thus already had an idea of what it was like to work in the U.S. This, along with the support of her family, allowed her to have a very smooth transition into her new life in Houston. Working as an internal auditor for EDPR NA, she was able to interact with various teams and departments such as Procurement, Development, Investment Analysis, Health and Safety, Environmental, Merchant Sales and Corporate Development. She got an inside look at their processes, daily tasks and challenges as well as some perspective on their regulations. “I really enjoy the way Americans work, especially their
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straightforwardness. I love their constructive criticism and find this a good way to improve and grow as a professional,” she says. Cristina noted the constant professionalism evident in all employees at the Houston office. She appreciates the American schedule, specifically the fact that she could start working very early in the morning and then have time in the afternoon to enjoy with her family. Despite her positive experience working in Houston, Cristina affirms at times she misses her noisier office back home in Madrid. She especially misses having her great team of internal auditors close by, although they exchange communication via emails and calls every day. However, she is very grateful for the acceptance she received from all departments in Houston. She gave the example of her coworkers from Corporate Development who immediately made her feel like a part of their team. Cristina believes she has been given a remarkable professional opportunity. “I would have never been able to gain all the knowledge I have without being in Houston,” she stresses. Cristina recommends this experience to everyone in the company and she believes it is a challenge that should be taken with a positive attitude and an open mind. When asked what advice she would give to EDPR employees about to embark on a similar adventure, Cristina enthusiastically responded: “Don´t think of what you are leaving behind… but think of all the amazing opportunities ahead. Be sure to enjoy every minute of it. Madrid, in my case, will always be there. So, don’t be scared, pack your things and take the next flight!”
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Powered by nature
renovรกveis
EDP Renewables is a global leader in the renewable energy sector. Powered by nature and our commitment to our communities and the environment, EDPR promotes sustainable development as we generate the energy of tomorrow.
www.edpr.com
ontrack World events EDP
Cooking Class 2012
he Cooking Class was designed for those employees who recently joined EDPR in 2011. It took place at Cocina Cayena where over 50 international EDPR employees came together to embark on culinary adventures. They were divided in three groups and given an international menu to prepare. The menu included traditional dishes from the countries in which EDPR is present. Some items on the menu included Gazpacho from Spain, Zacusca from Romania, Quiche Lorraine from France, Pasteis de nata from Portugal, Pierogi from Poland, Saltimbocca a la Romana from Italy and Fish and chips from UK. The cooking class provided employees with an exceptional way of interacting with new members of their international team. The room was full of energy as each group experimented with new recipes and tastes. By the end of the class, the participants had full stomachs and new friends!
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The online version of EDP Renewables’ Annual Report is recognised by the International Academy of the Visual Arts EDP Renewables (EDP Renováveis, Euronext: EDPR), a global leader in the renewable energy sector and the world’s third-largest wind energy producer, has received accolades for the online version of its Annual Report as part of the W3 awards presented by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. The online version of EDP Renewables’ Annual Report received an award in the main Best in Show category as well as Gold awards in the categories of General Websites: Financial Services and Website Features: Structure and Navigation. The W3Awards, judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, honour websites, online marketing, web video and mobile apps from around the world. This year’s edition received over 3,000 entries worldwide.
EDPR NA’s Employee Volunteer Program Organizes School Supply Drive The Employee Volunteer Program organized a two-week school supply drive where employees distributed full brand-new backpacks to families signed up for Houston Children’s Charity’s Back 2 School Program. Houston Children’s Charity is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Greater Houston’s underprivileged, abused and disabled children who have been otherwise left behind. EDPR NA’s Employee Volunteer Program, an internal program committed to supporting the activities of charitable organizations in the communities in which the company’s office are based, plans and organizes regular monthly volunteer activities. The program focused its last volunteer event on the “Back 2 School” program. For two weeks, employees were asked to bring in new school supplies and backpacks which were later assembled in the office. In total, EDPR NA employees donated enough backpacks and supplies to fill twentyfive backpacks. A team of employees helped Houston Children’s Charity distribute over 2,300 backpacks. onrenew 23
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EDPR NA CEO AND CANADA DEVELOPMENT TEAM VISITS MARBLE RIVER A tour of Marble River Wind Farm’s construction site was conducted to show Canadian business partners how an EDPR NA wind project is constructed. The group also included CEO Gabriel Alonso, Executive Vice President Andrew Young, Senior Project Manager Ryan Brown, and Project Developer Aron Branam. The primary focus of the tour, led by Senior Site Manager Rod Cossman and Site Manager Wayne Beck, was to show EDPR’s Vancouver Island development partner a wind farm under construction.
Marble River Wind Farm began construction in 2011. The 214MW project will consist of a total of 70 Vestas V112 turbines and is scheduled to be completed around October 31, 2012. As of early September, all bases, lower mids, nacelles, hubs, and drive trains are onsite and a total of 47 turbines have been erected. According to Beck, all foundations and roads are complete and the underground collection system will be completed by September 14th. In addition, road and collection line restoration has
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EDPR SELECTED AS
CLEAN AIR CHAMPION EDPR has been selected as a Clean Air Champion by the Houston-Galveston Area Council. The award, given to 27 companies including EDPR, highlights those companies which are taking steps to improve the region’s air quality. Amongst other criteria, EDPR has been evaluated regarding our commuter benefits, alternative commuting, telecommuting and flexible workplace policies. Information regarding the Clean Air Action award winners may be found on Houston Business Journal.
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begun in various locations. “Everything is moving along nicely,” said Beck. Ryan Brown, Senior Project Manager was pleased with the success of the tour. “We want to make sure our Canadian partners and landowners understand the full scope of a wind project from development to construction to operations,” he said. “I am always impressed by the quality of work being performed by the EDPR construction team and the Marble River Project was no exception,” said Gabriel Alonso.
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Oregon Tax Assessors & Collectors Visit
Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm
On August 14th over 150 Oregon State tax assessors and collectors toured Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm during the group’s annual conference hosted this year in Union County, Oregon. John Taylor (JT), EDPR NA Property Tax Manager, was invited by Linda Hill, Union County’s Tax Assessor and current President of the Tax Assessor’s and Tax Collector’s Organization, to speak to the large group about wind farms. John’s 90-minute presentation focused on development, construction and operation and was titled “What You See and What You May Not”. Following his presentation, tax assessors boarded school buses and were bused to Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm. EDPR NA team members boarded buses at the project site to provide commentary throughout
the tour while others provided short presentations at various locations throughout the wind farm. Tax assessors were able to get up close to the project’s wind turbines, substations, wetland and elk mitigation areas, as well as the O&M facility and Vestas’ warehouse/shop. The tax assessors invited the team to their evening reception where many questions were asked and answered. “I know it will provide returns to our company in the future,” said JT. “This is the type of event that provides great value for our company, with low cost, high participation and direct impact in the medium and long term cash flows of our projects,” stated Joao Metelo, Executive Vice President, in an email to the Executive Team.
EDPR COMMITS TO SAFETY
HIGH POTENTIAL IN MADRID EDPR held a two-day training session in Madrid. Employees from Corporate, North America and Europe platforms were selected to participate on the learning activities that included several leadership conferences and workshops held by Dr. Mario A. Puig. The program was highly interesting and informative for these employees. It was also relevant to the professional development, providing them with an experience for growth. The High Potential program is divided into two sections: one for Executives and one for Juniors who have excelled in their work and proved their high potential in the company.
Beginning 2012, EDPR sought to provide a clear understanding of the potential risks that may arise when operating a wind farm. The company performed environmental drills in wind farms located in Aragón, Asturias and Galicia which have generated positive results on behalf of the internal and external wind farm personnel, thus far. As for the rest of Europe, environmental drills have taken place in three wind farms in Portugal where firefighters participated as volunteers. In France, Romania and Poland, those responsible for the Environmental Management System are accountable for performing environmental drills with wind farm personnel as well as providing them with lectures regarding awareness of the risks involved in operating a wind farm. These drills demonstrate EDPR´s dedication to ensuring safety in its wind farms operating in Spain, France, Belgium, Poland and Portugal. The drills provide prevention and preparation methods as well as teach personnel how to be responsive and react safely in the event of an emergency situation. In order to ensure this, a theoretical and practical case is provided.
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