The ECHO program aims to achieve a net positive impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, water management, carbon storage, and local communities through actions within the perimeter of our power plants. Each project is tailored to its local context, ensuring that all regeneration programs are based on the specific local vegetation and morphological profile. These programs contribute to the self-renewal capacity of living systems, with the aim of reactivating ecological and anthropic processes that have been damaged or overexploited by human activity.
We develop regeneration programs adapted to each site to restore the soil’s capacity to absorb carbon emissions, promote biodiversity and retain water. In addition, whenever the size and configuration of a site allows, we plant a microforest, an edible forest or a forest garden on a plot of 1,000 to 2,000 m2 and more, whenever we can that may be accessible to the public.
We are developing structural programs to promote the regeneration of ecosystems in all countries where we make significant investments in photovoltaic infrastructure.
Our ECHO regeneration program was developed between 2022 and 2024, building on the experimentation of seven pilot projects across four countries. This crucial phase led to the creation of the ECHO Index, our exclusive tool for assessing ecosystem health.
We have defined 6 indicators to analyze soil health at our solar and storage sites. During the development phase of a new site, our partner Genesis conducts a soil study to establish a baseline against which we will compare analyses conducted after construction and every three years. These indicators are integrated into the Genesis platform for monitoring purposes.
Carbon sequestration helps mitigate climate change by storing carbon in trees (micro-forests, hedgerows) and in soil (SOC evolution).
| Indicators | Year of implementatIon |
|---|---|
| Soil Carbon (Genesis) | 2023 |
| Carbon sequestration above ground biomass | 2025 |
Above ground (fauna and/or flora) biodiversity evolution and/or below ground biodiversity evolution.
| Indicators | Year of implementatIon |
|---|---|
| Below ground biodiversity (Genesis) | 2023 |
| Above ground biodiversity and habitat | 2025 (with partial results in 2024) |
Maintain a vegetal cover and/or monitor evolution of above ground vegetal biomass productivity.
| Indicators | Year of implementatIon |
|---|---|
| Erosion protection (Genesis) | 2023 |
| Biomass productivity | 2025 |
Water infiltration/retention evolution. Ex: water consumption or improvement of the water storage in the soil.
| Indicators | Year of implementatIon |
|---|---|
| Water in soil (Genesis) | 2023 |
| Optimise water use | 2025 |
Soil and/or groundwater contamination evolution, whenever relevant.
| Indicators | Year of implementatIon |
|---|---|
| Soil contamination (Genesis) | 2023 |
| Groundwater Contamination | Site-dependent |
Impact of the regeneration program on the local community.
| Indicators | Year of implementatIon |
|---|---|
| Local impact | 2025 |
| Social value creation | 2025 |
Scaling the Program Across Our International Portfolio
The year 2024 marked a major acceleration with the progressive rollout of the ECHO program across our entire portfolio.
By the end of 2024, over 240 hectares of projects already under construction or in operation had integrated regeneration design or initiatives. Additionally, we proactively embedded regeneration strategies into more than 500 MW of projects under development.
This means our future solar plants are designed to go beyond simply producing renewable energy; they are also intended to deliver lasting benefits for biodiversity, improve carbon storage in ecosystems, and enhance soil water retention throughout their lifecycle.
Each regeneration initiative is unique, tailored to its site and local context, developed in close collaboration with local stakeholders, and designed to maximise positive impacts as measured by our Index.
The results on the ECHO Index will vary from site to site, depending on its history, infrastructure, and geographical context.
Thanks to its scientific foundation and measurable positive impacts on ecosystems, Amarenco’s ECHO program has been recognised for its integrity by the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB).
The ECHO program was also featured at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia.
• ECHO program integrated across 240 hectares of sites under construction or in operation.
• More than 500 hectares of projects under development include a regeneration program.
• 100% of projects presented to the Investment Committee in 2024 are fully aligned with the project criteria.
At Amarenco, the shareholders have committed to regeneration by allocating a specific budget linked to the number of MW in operation. By investing in a project or purchasing our energy they contribute at the time of commissioning and then per year for the entire duration of the project. Every Euro invested is a step towards a more sustainable future.
Our ECHO projects are monitored on a series of indicators, from carbon stored in soils to biodiversity improvements and social benefits, ensuring our investments and actions create value for all. With the aim to be compatible with the EU Green Finance Taxonomy, the SFDR and the CSRD, our indicators cover carbon, water, social impacts and biodiversity.
• Ecosystem resilience
• Benefits for our local communities
• Vegetal biomass production improvement
• Better overall carbon footprint
• Reduced erosion
• Fight desertification and artificialisation
• Increase in overall biodiversity