Applus+ IDIADA: Environmental performance in 2022

Water consumption

The activities of IDIADA 1, IDIADA 2 and Les Planes require the use of a significant volume of water. This water has two different origins:

• Water from IDIADA’s own wells
• Water from external sources (Cassa Aigües i depuració S.L & Aigües de Tomovi)

The main uses of this water are as follows:

• Irrigation of vegetation and landscaped areas.
• Braking, fatigue, ramps, and wet handling tracks
• Toilets, changing rooms and kitchen
• Testing machines and cooling towers

The testing machines and cooling towers continued to work to service the work at the facilities. Moreover, the water consumed on the runways increased 10.39% in 2022 regarding 2021, this since runway testing hours increased by 31% in the same period.

In the period from 2016 to 2019, as shown in the graph, the trend in water consumption as a function of hours worked was downward, due in part to the implementation of measures aimed at improving water consumption efficiency.

In 2022, it is evident that total water consumption has decreased by 3.9% in 2022 compared to 2021 even though the number of hours worked in person is higher compared to the same period.

The evolution of the absolute value of water consumption is shown below.

In 2022, a new measure was implemented to reduce water consumption in the braking tracks, which consists of accurately measuring consumption and improving the distribution piping to prevent losses due to leaks. In addition, we continued with other measures already implemented, such as periodic monitoring of the network of meters for early detection of possible leaks by the maintenance team.

Waste Generation

In 2022, in total figures, the daily activity of IDIADA 1, IDIADA 2 and Les Planes generated 0.50 kg of waste per hour worked, of which 0.23 kg corresponded to special waste and 0.34 kg to non-special waste, all of which was managed by authorized waste management companies.

In 2022, waste generation increased compared to 2021 due to new projects related to electric vehicles and new customers with increasingly specific tests.

All waste generated at IDIADA is separated at source according to its nature, in order to enable its proper management. Of the total waste generated, 90.75% has been recovered. This means an increase of 3% in 2022 over 2021.

In addition, we have continued with the information actions on waste management for customers, initiated in previous years, and also included information on the waste that has arisen from new activities generated.

Atmospheric emissions

The nature of the activity carried out at IDIADA involves the use of different types of fuels, including petrol, diesel, LPG, and LNG, which results in the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The chart below shows that fossil fuel consumption has returned to pre-pandemic levels, even though the number of on-site hours worked is higher. The main reason for this is the increased testing of electric vehicles using different energy sources.

Electricity consumption

Throughout 2022, IDIADA continued its policy of reducing electricity consumption in its facilities by implementing the following measures:

• The installation of network analysers in main panels and more efficient VRV-type air-conditioning equipment, screw compressors with inverter technology, with remote management for improved control, continues in new buildings.
• Replacement of fluorescent tubes no longer in use with similar, more efficient ones.
• Changes in lighting for new technologies, such as LEDs, for example.

As in 2021, the growth of electric vehicle testing has experienced significant growth. Therefore, IDIADA is continuously adapting its facilities to be able to offer customers the most advanced services and technologies. Throughout 2022, new charging points have been installed in some of the boxes destined for customers in order to meet their testing needs.

In addition, during the year 2022, the testing of electric motors on IDIADA's test benches continued at a normal pace. These benches are associated with numerous auxiliary equipment with high electrical consumption.

Comparing the ratio of electricity consumption per hours worked in 2022 with 2021, a decrease is observed, favoured by the increase in hours worked.

When comparing the ratio of electricity consumption per hours worked in 2022 with 2021, a reduction is observed, due to the increase in the number of hours worked.

We would like to highlight once again that the energy consumed by these machines, and in general all the energy consumed internally at IDIADA, comes from 100% renewable sources.

Environmental management programme

Continuous improvement is a basic pillar on which IDIADA's environmental policy is based. That is why we continue to work on the implementation of measures to improve the company's environmental performance.

For this purpose, several objectives have been established for the year 2023, which are detailed below:

Objective 1: Search for a manager with an alternative treatment for wood (LER 200138).

In order to achieve this, an advantage will be sought through the different managers in the market, contacting said managers to request the information and analyze the best option for the creation of providers and PRL.

Objective 2: Reduce by 1.5% the tons of RAEE's generated (LER 200136) by the number of hours worked compared to the value obtained in 2022.

Communicating the Objective to the IDIADA workers and holding a meeting with the department. Service Desk to analyze the objective and the measures, a deposit area must be enabled for the RAEE's that can be used and recorded. Trying to give a second useful life to RAEE's.

Objective 3: Positively value the management of ion/lithium batteries (LER 160607).

To achieve this, managers for the batteries must be identified (LER 160607), establishing contact with the suppliers and making an agreement, with the corresponding procedures for the creation of a manager who can work with IDIADA.

Send the first charge of batteries so that the composition is analyzed and determine the positive evaluation, establishing a schedule to send the batteries periodically to the manager.

Objective 4: Implement a new digital tool for internal waste management.

A waste Software will be implemented, selecting a software that adjusts to the needs of the company and adapting the internal and documentation processes to the new software.

With the implementation, provision of training and training to personnel who will use said Software in waste management.

On the other hand, the degree of achievement of the objectives set for 2022 is detailed below:

Objective 1: To reduce by 2% the tonnes of RAEE generated (LER 200136) by the number of on-site hours worked with respect to the value obtained in 2021.

During 2022, it was achieved a reduction of 0.7% in the generation of the electronic devices waste, so that it was not completely achieved the objective, and so for 2023 it has been proposed going on working in this objective.

Objective 2: Collection of data on m3 discharged/month at the Braking Track and study of the technical and economic viability of options to reduce it.

It was recollected the numbers m3 of monthly discharge water on the brake track during 2022 the actions directed to decrease the consumption of water in the brakes track will be in process of execution during 2023.

Objective 3: Reduce by 12% scope 2 emissions (CO2 tons) in all IDIADA BU's with respect to scope 2 emissions in 2021. To do this, by communicating the objective to management and workers, establishing a compliance bonus to the management, to do so by promoting the purchase of energy from renewable sources.

It was possible to reduce scope 2tCO2e emissions by 42% in all BU's during 2022 compared to 2021, therefore the objective set was fully met.