Zorlu Enerji Elektrik Uretim : Energy releases its 6th Sustainability Report

Press Release September 18, 2020

Zorlu Energy releases its 6th Sustainability Report

Zorlu Energy releases its 6th Sustainability Report in accordance with GRI Standards under the leadership of the Sustainability Board. Zorlu Energy transparently discloses its development performance to the general public by positioning sustainability at the focal point of its business model for the purpose of implementing the smart energy systems of the future.

Acting as one of the pioneers in Turkey's domestic and renewable energy area, Zorlu Energy, in accordance with the vision of sustainability, released the 6th Sustainability Report drawn up within the framework of GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standards, United Nations Global Compact and Women's Empowerment Principles to which Zorlu Energy is a signatory. Zorlu Energy has been sharing its report, including activities and operations in the field of sustainability, every two years since 2009.

The latest report of Zorlu Enerji, disclosing the entire endeavors within the framework of combating the climate crisis, reducing carbon emissions, sustainable use of resources, social governance, energy efficiency and energy supply security, covers the entire corporate activities and operations performed between 2018-2019.

While executing its entire activities and operations in order to fulfill the expectations of its stakeholders by providing continuous interaction, contribute to the improvement and development of the sustainable economy of our country, manage the entire risks in the environmental and social areas and contribute to the society, Zorlu Energy positions people and nature at the focal point of its production and investment activities. Zorlu Energy addresses awareness raising, monitoring and assessment activities in order to ensure the accomplishment of its future goals, combat climate change and sustainable development in the Sustainability Report released.

Zorlu Energy's 6th Sustainability has been drawn up in accordance with the starting point of "Foundation" option of Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards, generally accepted worldwide in this area. Endeavors, along with this report, have been executed in where actions for the evaluation of the current practices, performance of gap analysis, determination and improvement of strategy and objectives are defined for the purpose of developing and improving of the sustainability strategy.

Zorlu Energy calls for "An Equal World"

In the context of the program "An Equal World" accomplished in 2019 pursuing the objective of adopting the concept of societal gender equality, among the prominent aspects of the report, Zorlu Energy undertakes to disseminate its discourses and actions to every possible field through internal and external communication for the purpose of raising this awareness by ensuring to increase rate of employment of women, adopt the equal opportunities as the corporate policy and increase the women representation in the senior management.

Zorlu Energy, through its program serving for ensuring the societal gender equality numbered 5 and decreasing inequalities numbered 10 indicated within the Sustainable Development Objectives, aims to lead forth for this aspect to be comprehended and adopted in the business world. Sustainability Report further addresses various projects and endeavors of corporations achieving collaborations within this process.

We are endeavoring with all our strength for a sustainable future

Pointing out that they have been maintaining the investments incessantly through the vision of acting as the energy corporation of the future, Sinan Ak, CEO of Zorlu Energy, further stated that they have determined and set the objectives and strategies in accordance with the Smart Life 2030 vision covering Zorlu Holding and the entire corporations, readdressed their sustainability strategies by taking into account the future-oriented development goals and ever-changing requirements, and said, " in accordance with our goal of pioneering the energy sector we operate, we continue to grow by taking firm steps and sustaining of our journey we embarked upon with a single power plant more than 25 years ago on a global scale. With the strength we rely upon through our deep-rooted past, we have been endeavoring with all our strength for a sustainable future, adding new ones to our experiences every year. We, therefore, position our sustainability as the focal point for our entire endeavors and we perform our entire activities and operations in an environmentally friendly manner, acting as a global brand with the awareness of fulfilling the expectations and requirements of our stakeholders to carry our country into the future.

"Performing our entire new investments to renewable energy."

Stating that 85% of the installed capacity of Zorlu Energy in Turkey and 61% of the world's total installed capacity are based on renewable energy resources, Sinan Ak further mentioned that the operations and activities of the corporation are carried out in line with the mission of "environmentally friendly, safe, quality and sustainable energy generation, trade and distribution" and added, "Environmental awareness is one of the 7 focal points of our sustainability strategy. We have been performing our entire activities, operations and investments within the framework of our Environmental Policy, prioritizing the preservation of natural resources and the reduction of our environmental impacts. Within the scope of our Environmental Policy, we select appropriate materials and technologies for the purpose of reducing the negative environmental impacts in our entire activities and operations, and utilizing resources effectively and efficiently. We further conduct electrification studies to reduce the waste and emissions. Through our ZES brand we have established in accordance with these goals, we are establishing charging stations in our country in order to accelerate the mobility of the electric cars. The fact that 85% of our energy generation is based on renewable energy resources indicates the importance and emphasize we have been placing upon the aspect of carbon emission. By the end of 2019, more than 26 percent of global electricity generation is obtained from the renewable energy resources, however, sadly to mention that this is not sufficient to achieve the carbon neutral target. We cannot afford to wait for the year 2040 or 2050 to endeavor with all our strength to create an energy ecosystem relying upon the renewable resources. Therefore, we are required to solve the issue at source and create a new generation economy producing carbon emission at the minimum levels. As Zorlu Enerrgy, we have been raising environmental awareness and conscious and transparently sharing our environmental impact with our stakeholders, and endeavoring to improve it. "

Stating that they have been investing to the establishment and operation of smart systems to initiate the transformation in the industry within the scope of innovation works accomplished, Sinan Ak further pointed out, "We are closely following and monitoring the transformation in the energy sector while our digitalization endeavors for the establishment of smart systems and cities progress. We are aiming to transform our business models through digitalization and create new opportunities. We, of course, do not contended with that and digitalize both the channels establishing our contact with the customers and our internal processes. Our endeavors have been ongoing in the field of digitalization, R&D, innovation and the electric vehicles in particular through our Smart Systems department established by us in 2017. Through Zorlu Solar, established in 2016, we provide all sorts of installation and consultancy services related to solar energy, which is considered to be the indispensable part of smart systems, and we have been proceeding with our investments in this field. We further endeavor on electrical charging stations and energy storage projects supported by EPDK (Energy Market Regulatory Board) and continue to develop various projects within the scope of Horizon 2020 Program of the European Union. "

5.5 mil. TL for Social Investments

Zorlu Energy proceeds with contributing incrementally each year to Turkey's future and offering benefits to society in the entire regions of operations while generating energy from domestic and renewable resources with an innovative approach. In this context, encouraging and promoting development in various areas such as education, healthcare, culture and sports during the years 2018-2019, Zorlu Energy has already performed a social investment worth 5.5 mil. in total.

Zorlu Energy's sustainability activities

In accordance with a transparent, fair, responsible and accountable insight, addressing to the practices and implementations in the economic, social and environmental areas accomplished within the reporting period of 2018-2019, Mr. Sinan Ak further stated, "We have concluded an agreement with Garanti Bank in 2018 within the scope of green loans established to support sustainable projects and corporations. We have accomplished Turkey's first Green Loan. We have proceeding with releasing our CDP Climate Change and Water Management reports on a regular basis. Actingas a corporation blazing a trail in many aspects within our sector with respect to sustainability, we are entitled to be included in the Sustainability Index for the fourth time explicated by the Istanbul Stock Exchange (Borsa Istanbul) for the period between November 2019 and October 2020. We have then initiated our program "An Equal Life" in 2019 to introduce our contributions to societal gender equality within the scope of our vision "An Equal Life 2030". In this context, we concluded the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), which is the joint initiative of UN Women and UN Global Compact. We have also justified pride of being a member of the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative."