The Giro dell’Acqua: harnessing the power of young people and sports to make hydroelectric power even more sustainable

Where there’s water, there’s life. Seventy percent of earth’s surface is covered by water and it is an incredibly precious resource for human beings, something we use every day to quench our thirst, cook, wash, grow crops and make things. According to the United Nations, each one of us needs between 20 and 50 liters of clean water per day to meet our basic needs and be guaranteed the right to live. But the real challenge lies not just in guaranteeing everyone access to clean water today, but in protecting future generations by shielding them from potential situations of water scarcity. This is where the whole theme of water sustainability comes into play because while water may be a renewable resource, it is not inexhaustible. Raising awareness of the need for sustainability is therefore a priority. That is why we have developed a two-day full-immersion sport and sustainability event in partnership with the Giro di Lombardia. Our first Influencer Activation As presenting sponsor of the Giro di Lombardia, we spotted the opportunity to involve young people in a project aimed at creating awareness of the role of hydroelectric power and its importance to the energy transition as well as to the concepts of sustainability and innovation associated with this technology. The result is the “Giro dell’Acqua”, Enel Green Power’s first Influencer Activation event. We involved content creators Elisa Scarlatta, Marco Aurelio Fontana and Omar Martinello to discuss sports, mountains, science, innovation and renewable energy, as they hail not just from the world of cycling but also nature and sustainability. Gran Fondo Il Lombardia The Gran Fondo Il Lombardia is a major cycling event now on its fifth outing. It is an amateur competition that takes place on October 9 this year, the day after the pro stage of the Giro di Lombardia. The new jersey, produced by Castelli in partnership with Enel Green Power, brilliantly encapsulates the spirit of the race: the grey background of the road is integrated with green, a symbol not only of nature but also of sustainability. Overlaid on this are phrases written on the road surface of the Giro’s legendary Muro di Sormano, aka the Sormano Wall, underscoring the connection between human intervention, innovation, nature, sustainability, history and the culture of sports. Giro d’Italia winner Damiano Cunego has described the Sormano and Ghisallo ascents as “very tough historic climbs” that he knows “personally very well”. The guests we have invited will also take part in the race with Enel Green Power staff, including CEO Salvatore Bernabei. Our tour On Monday, October 1o, the day after taking part in the Gran Fondo Il Lombardia, the content creators will be taken on a tour of the Dossi hydroelectric complex by our experts. This is a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of hydroelectric power and to discover firsthand the key role that innovation in the technologies involved in hydroelectric power generation plays in fostering sustainability and accelerating the energy transition. They’ll also see the impressive Barbellino dam and the majestic Serio waterfalls in Val Seriana: 315 meters high and utterly majestic with three breath-taking leaps. The falls are opened five times a year in partnership with the local municipal council, and these times are really an unmissable event for mountain lovers. After this discovery tour of hydroelectric power, the group will enjoy a 30-km bike ride along the Val Seriana bike path which runs all the way to Clusone. Hydroelectric power’s fundamental role Hydroelectric power accounts for around 40% of Italy’s renewable energy mix and is the oldest form of renewable energy in existence, with roots going all the way back to the 19th century. Enel Green Power has innovated on several fronts, shining a spotlight on this technology and its impact on the energy transition. The introduction of new turbines whose rotational speed is no longer linked to the frequency of the grid has reduced the minimum amount of water required for the station to work, which means it can operate even in times of drought such as the recent one. The adoption of new dredging systems which help preserve the biome of the reservoirs and involve small, silent, next-generation electric boats has also overcome certain negative aspects of hydroelectric generation such as the environmental impact of maintaining the plants. That said, hydroelectric power’s potential goes beyond power generation: as the Giro’s participants will see, reservoirs of clean water whose quantity can be controlled at both the entry and the exit points have significant benefits for the biodiversity of the flora and fauna in the surrounding environment, which regain their importance and significance in tourism terms, as well. Our guests will also be able to see firsthand the impact of what we have built: hydroelectric dams create new tourist and sports trails as well as ensuring the maintenance and protection of existing ones. Cycling tourism in particular benefits from the way in which hydroelectric power plants support the areas around them. So our aim is clear: we want to promote the energy transition not just through innovative technologies but also thanks to the energy of young people and the world of sports, both firsthand protagonists in this change.

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The Giro dell’Acqua: harnessing the power of young people and sports to make hydroelectric power even more sustainable

The Giro dell’Acqua: harnessing the power of young people and sports to make hydroelectric power even more sustainable

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