The Broader View of Sustainability

Dominic Dowling, Global Head of Sustainability, EDL

“There’s a very strong focus in the energy sector, and in the wider community, on reducing carbon emissions,” said Dom. “That’s absolutely an urgent and critical issue and at the forefront of the sustainability agenda, but sustainability by definition is a broader concern.”

Coming from a non-traditional background in sustainability and risk, having worked in international development and then as a consultant, Dom believes sustainability is more than just reducing carbon emissions. “Sustainability encompasses economic, environmental, social, and governance factors, and true sustainability is when all these elements are in balance,” said Dom.

Dom’s role with EDL is to embed sustainability across the entire organisation further. And a big reason he joined EDL last year was because of its strong foundation and track record of sustainability, which started long before it became a focus for many businesses.

“There are several forces driving sustainability action,” said Dom. “Businesses have to revisit targets set in the past and be accountable for their progress. Industry standards are constantly rising, and buyers of energy are not only preferring suppliers who have a strong sustainability commitment but, in some cases, will now exclude those who don’t from their selection process. And, of course, there are government incentives and mandates on the table that are pushing the sustainability agenda in the most positive way we’ve seen for many years,” he added.

"Sustainability encompasses economic, environmental, social, and governance factors, and true sustainability is when all these elements are in balance"

EDL is driving sustainability progress through both Community-driven and Tech-driven initiatives.

Community

Throughout EDL, there is an awareness of the benefits of diversity, not only for global progress in providing opportunities but also for the overall quality of EDL’s work and its long-term legacy. EDL is active in the communities where it operates: providing local jobs, support to community activities, and safe, reliable, and increasingly sustainable energy.

In recent years, EDL has increased its focus on Indigenous engagement and participation through Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) framework. In 2022, EDL progressed to the Innovate level of the RAP and has a dedicated Working Group (of which Dom is an active member) focused on further developing Indigenous relationships, respect, and opportunities across employment, procurement, and relationship development.

Technology

EDL is a leader in renewable energy technology, perhaps best illustrated by its Agnew Hybrid Renewable Microgrid in Western Australia. This project was the first of its kind in Australia to utilise wind generation on a large scale at a mine site, but it is the technology that manages the integration of wind energy alongside solar, battery, and gas/diesel that is shaping the future of sustainability. EDL has built an advanced control system that ensures each component plays its part in powering the mine without compromising supply quality, consistency, or reliability.

The scale and success of Agnew build on the learnings from EDL’s earlier work in the remote opal mining town of Coober Pedy in South Australia. Since 2017, the Coober Pedy Hybrid Renewable Power Station has supplied the offgrid town with an average of 75% renewable energy over the long term, including 97 consecutive hours of 100% renewable energy.

EDL also has future projects in the planning stages that will increase the portion of renewables, which bodes well for our planet.

Community-meets-Technology

At times, EDL has an opportunity to utilise sustainable technologies to support sustainability goals for the community. EDL is the developer, owner, and operator of a hybrid renewable power station in the remote off-grid township of Jabiru in the Northern Territory. This station provides energy to more than one thousand local residents for the long term as they transition away from their mining legacy to their future as a tourism and services hub. This hybrid renewable power station integrates 3.9MW solar generation, a 3MW/5MWh battery, and 4.5MW diesel generation to balance sustainability with reliability.

So what does the future hold for sustainable energy? According to Dom, the more important consideration is what we can do now. “I believe businesses who stand to thrive in the future are leading the way and taking action now, making themselves and the community future-ready. EDL is one of those leaders, and we’re excited about the already underway change.”