ENGIE partners with Aena and Higer to test electric buses at the Congonhas airport, in São Paulo
ENGIE, the leading renewable energy company in Brazil, has partnered with Aena, the world’s largest airport operator, and Higer, the world’s leading maker of electric buses, to carry out trials for a new transportation model that may be implemented in airports nationwide. According to the model, ENGIE will be responsible for project planning and management, enabling the transition from vehicles running on fossil fuels to electric ones using renewable sources, making the investment and providing the fleet’s charging infrastructure.
Starting this week, passengers at the Aena-managed Congonhas Airport will have access to additional comfort, technology and safety when they use remote boarding or unboarding with the new vehicle. The terminal is testing the electric bus HIGER Azure A12BR, which is 100-percent electric, with no CO2 emissions or noise production. The goal is to use the vehicle for in-airport passenger transportation, replacing fossil fuel-burning buses and thereby reducing atmospheric carbon emissions. The Azure A12BR has 270km in autonomy and is entirely battery bowered, with up to 3 hours’ charging time.
As a global reference in low-carbon services, ENGIE offers sustainable solutions to companies and cities in across the country. The partnership with Aena, which is the concession holder for 17 airports in Brazil, aligns with the company’s objective of reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2045.
“Reducing energy consumption and emissions is in line with ENGIE’s purpose of acting to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral world. In addition, we help companies become more sustainable and efficient, optimizing their electric energy costs,” said Jacques-Olivier Klotz, CEO of ENGIE Soluções.
Aena Brasil is currently investing in structural works at the airports that it manages to make them more efficient. For Aena Brasil’s Chief infrastructure, Operations and IT Officer, Raul Moya, the Aena-ENGIE partnership is another important step in connection with the ESG agenda pledge to make the airport a more sustainable space, reducing carbon emissions even as it makes passengers more comfortable. “Aena’s objective is to have 100 percent of our 25-bus fleet in Congonhas using the new technology,” he emphasized.
For Marcelo Barella, Higer Bus Director for Latin America, “This is yet another important step making e-mobility part of people’s everyday lives, valuing safety, comfort and, above all, accessibility for all.”
ABOUT ENGIE
ENGIE is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. With its 97,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. Turnover in 2022: 82.6 billion Euros.
In Brazil, ENGIE, leader in 100% renewable power generation in the country, operates in generation, commercialization and transmission of electric power, gas transport and energy solutions. The Company
has in the country an installed capacity of 12,5 GW, originated from renewable sources and with low GHG emissions, such as hydro, solar and biomass power plants, and windfarms.
With the acquisition of Transportadora Associada de Gás – TAG, ENGIE now also owns the largest natural gas transportation network in the country, at 4,500 km and transecting 10 states and 191 cities.
The Group has a complete portfolio of integrated solutions focused on reducing costs and improving the infrastructure for companies and cities, such as energy efficiency, public lighting, energy monitoring and management.
With 2,800 employees, ENGIE’s turnover in Brazil in 2023 was of R$ 11.7 billion. ENGIE trades on the B3 through its energy generation and trading company, ENGIE Brasil Energia, under the ticker EGIE3. In addition to being a B3 Novo Mercado component, the Company is one of the very few companies that have been listed in the Business Sustainability Index since its creation in 2005. In 2021, ENGIE Brasil Energia was included in the Carbon-Efficient Index (ICO2), made up of IBrX 100 companies that are most transparent in terms of GHG emissions reporting and how they are preparing for a low-carbon economy.
The company also received in May 2024 the certification Great Place to Work, a recognition which validates the continuous commitment of the company to create a positive and inclusive work environment for all.
The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120/France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X).