Advocating for Clean Air
For decades, NextEra Energy has been reducing emissions through the development of renewable energy and modernization of its generation fleet. The company’s new goal is to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rate 67% by 2025, from a 2005 baseline. This equates to a nearly 40% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions, despite the company’s total expected electricity production almost doubling over that time. NextEra Energy expects to periodically update its CO2 emissions goal as it continues to execute on its strategy of being a leading clean energy infrastructure company.*
Reducing Emissions
We have one of the lowest emissions profiles of any utility in North America. In 2018, we achieved our lowest-ever emissions rates of SO2, NOx and CO2 -- rates that were 96%, 81% and 55% lower, respectively, than the average U.S. utility sector.*
Investing in Clean Generation
In 2018 alone, more than 57 million tons of carbon dioxide were avoided thanks to our emissions-free wind, solar and nuclear power generation -- that's the equivalent of taking 11 million cars off the road.
Supporting Cleaner Cars
FPL operates a large clean vehicle fleet consisting of nearly 2,400 bio-diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles that provided a more than 570,000 gallon reduction in petroleum use and a more than 5,600 ton reduction in CO2 emissions in 2018.
Reducing emissions with a cleaner fleet
In 2018, 98.2% of the power produced by our facilities was generated from a diverse mix of clean or renewable sources, including wind, solar, natural gas and nuclear. Along with NextEra Energy Resources being the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, FPL's investments in affordable clean energy infrastructure, which includes adding advanced technologies and phasing out older coal-fired and oil-burning power plants, has saved customers nearly $10 billion in fossil fuel costs and prevented 133 million tons of CO2 emissions since 2001.
FPL has invested in advanced generation technology to modernize our older, outdated power plants to highly efficient natural gas facilities that produce more energy with less fuel and substantially lower emissions.
We are also greatly reducing our reliance on coal and oil -- in addition to shutting down two coal facilities within the past two years, we are planning to phase out an additional coal facility by 2020. FPL has also launched our groundbreaking '30-by-30' plan to install more than 30 million solar panels by 2030. FPL projects that solar will outpace coal and oil combined as a percentage of the company's energy mix by the year 2020.
Beyond our power generation, through innovation and support of new technologies, we are reducing emissions and encouraging customers to do the same.
Conserving and Managing Water
Water is critical for traditional forms of power generation, which use water to drive electric steam generators as well as to cool certain power plant equipment. To ensure sustainable access to this natural resource, we're active stewards for sourcing, using and managing water in the communities in which we operate.
We're taking measures to reduce our water consumption, including investing in both water-free power generation from wind and solar and in more efficient generation at our facilities that use steam turbines.
Conserving Water
Just as water plays a critical role in the generation of reliable, affordable power, we understand the vital need to conserve and protect our water resources. We embed water conservation management strategies into our business planning and operational practices to lower costs and mitigate risks posed by water availability. We reduce consumption through efficiency, technology and operational improvements, including:
- Investing in water-free power generation: We've made a conscious decision to invest in wind and solar generation, which together comprise more than a third of our company's generating capacity. Neither technology uses water for power generation.
- Using sustainable water sources: Nearly 80% of the water we withdrew in 2018 came from seawater sources, which are non-potable and drought proof. We also use reclaimed water for cooling purposes when feasible; for example, our West County Energy Center in Florida uses reclaimed water. Doing so offsets the demand for higher-quality water and reduces water supply risk.
In addition, we have increased efficiencies at our facilities that use steam turbines to generate power. Importantly, the majority -- nearly 99% -- of water withdrawn for use at our thermoelectric plants is withdrawn via a once-through cooling system and then returned to its original source. The remainder of the water withdrawn is reused or consumed through evaporation or deep well injection.
Managing Water
As in other areas of our operations, we adopt best practices for water management to minimize our environmental footprint while optimizing operational and financial performance. Existing facilities are constantly challenged to be innovative and efficient. For example:
- Facilities monitor water quality parameters to ensure proper quality for plant use, as well as adherence to discharge permitting requirements, which protect receiving water bodies. Water quality changes can also help identify potential issues in the system such as leaking pipes or valves.
- We use Six Sigma and quality improvement processes to identify opportunities to reduce water use. This also leads to cost savings at our facilities, which can ultimately save our customers money.
- Modernizations completed at three of our power plants in Florida increased how efficiently we use water. The modernized plants have greater generation capacity when compared to the previous plants, without using additional water to reach that capacity.
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
99% of the water we withdraw for use at our facilities is later returned to its original source.
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Our investments in water-free wind and solar energy avoided the use of more than 14 billion gallons of water in 2018.
*Achievement of the CO2 emissions goals will be dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, future technology development, governmental policy and mergers and acquisitions.
*Please note that the environmental attributes of NextEra Energy's electric generating facilities have been or likely will be sold or transferred to third parties, who are solely entitled to the reporting rights and ownership of the environmental attributes, such as renewable energy credits, emissions reductions, offsets, allowances and the avoided emission of greenhouse gas pollutants.