Nuclear companies among most sustainable in electricity sector

Chemistry and Industry, March 10, 2008 by Marina Murphy

The world's most sustainable energy company is nuclear generator Endesa, according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report. Of the top 15% of companies in the electricity sector, 14 had interests in nuclear power plants.

The Sustainability Yearbook, put together by PwC and the SAM Group, chose Endesa as the most sustainable electricity company based on the company's economic, environmental and social responsibility. Endesa scored 78%, compared to an average for the sector of 60%.

Two Spanish companies joined Endesa on the shortlist, which represented the most sustainable 15% of companies in the sector worldwide. These were Iberdrola and Union Fenosa.

Other nuclear companies selected for their sustainable practises were:Constellation, Entergy, Exelon, Progress Energy and Xcel Energy in the US; Enel in Italy; and Fortum of Finland. Only two electricity firms highlighted by Sustainability Yearbook did not have nuclear power plants.

A previous report published in January, the fourth annual global 100 list, also included an impressive number of energy companies and utilities, some of which own nuclear power plants.