Annual Report - EDP

: performance :Distribution of complaintsto the Ethics CommitteeComplaints submitted by employees, though lessin number, have had in 2012 a relatively prominentposition, accounting for 37% of the total.In terms of ethics complaints processes thatwere concluded in 2012, the decisions by theCommittee were as follows: 14 complaints upheld(61%); 8 complaints dismissed (35%);1 inconclusive process (4%).F1EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTSBY SOURCE (No.)14Citizen53CostumerEDP - Annual Report 201251310Employee3Supplier2011 2012Note: The ethics complaint channel in Brazil offers the option of anonimityfor the complaint.502AnonymousActions decided by theEthics CommitteeThe implementation of the actions determinedby the Ethics Committee and, above all, theawareness raising initiatives for employees andbusiness partners are expected to make a positiveand sustained contribution to better performancein terms of Integrity and Ethics, as required by thevision of excellence leadership projected by EDP.For further information: www.edp.pt> edp>corporate governance> ethics.15%11%3%4%IMPROVEMENTOF INTERNALPROCEEDINGS7%15%TERMINATIONOF THE EMPLOYMENTCONTRACTDISQUALIFICATIONOF SUPPLIERS4%ETHICS COMMITTEEDECISIONSCOMPENSATIONFOR DAMAGESCOMPETENCEASSESSMENTFOR POSTEXERCISE41%TERMINATIONOF SUPPLYING CONTRACTMONITORING/INSPECTION/AUDITEMPLOYEETRAINING3.3. r&d andinnovationInnovation is essential to the growth of thebusiness and EDP has demonstrated that it ispossible to innovate in the often staid contextof energy utilities.Thanks to the creation of tools that enableit to generate ideas and manage knowledge,EDP is today more open to the contributionsof its customers, suppliers, employees and thecommunity at large, seeking to unleash latentcreativity in a sustainable way.The EDP Group’s Research, Development andInnovation (RD+i) activities in the electricitysector concentrate on the following strategicareas: renewable energies; advanced generationtechnologies; smart grids/networks; energyefficiency; electric mobility; informationtechnologies and business support; innovation“eco-system”.In line with these objectives, HC Energía inSpain focuses its activities on technologies thatrespond to the environmental challenges facingthe business operations: flexible generation witha high degree of availability; energy efficiency andmicro-generation; networks, energy storage andelectric vehicles.In Brazil, the “Innovabildade” strategy was developed.It is based on the Group’s Sustainable DevelopmentPrinciples and focuses on the following innovationareas: technology, operations and management;products and services; and business models. Theseaspects also include the RD+i activities in the contextof the regulatory obligations to which the distributioncompanies are subject.In the gas sector, EDP strategically concentrates itsefforts on three main areas: safety and managementof natural gas supply; energy efficiency; andimprovement in products and services.The EDP Group’s forecast expenditure on RD+iin 2012 amounts to approximately EUR 32million. This estimate assumes the continueddevelopment of projects in progress during theprevious year and was calculated on the basisof the projected changes of the responses tothe National Scientific and Technology PotentialSurvey carried out in the various Groupcompanies between July and September 2012(reason why this amount differs from the estimatemade for 2012 of EUR 60 million). It should bementioned that the final figure for 2012 will onlybe determined a few months after the closure ofthe company accounts for the year, in accordancewith the methodology in place since 2006.3.3.1. renewable energyOffshore wind energyEDP reconfirmed its commitment to offshore/ocean energy as one of the areas of focus in itsinnovation effort. Offshore wind energy continuesto grow and assert itself as a possible path forexpansion in the area of renewable generation.The WindFloat project, developed by a consortiumled by EDP (other consortium members: PrinciplePower, A. Silva Matos, InovCapital, Vestas andRepsol), aims to develop an innovative technologybased on a floating platform for multiple MW windturbine towers which will make it possible toharness wind energy potential on the open seastarting at depths of 40 metres. The project iscurrently in the monitoring and technology validationtesting phase. It can, however, be highlighted thatEU funding was secured to demonstrate theindustrial development of the concept.59Technological platformsThe EDP Group is involved in thefollowing technological platforms:• Spanish CO 2Technology Platform:www.pteco2.es• Spanish Energy EfficiencyTechnology Platform: www.pte-ee.org• Spanish futured networkstechnology platform: www.futured.es• Spanish Electric Vehicle Forum:www.foreve.es• KIC InnoEnergy Iberia: www.kicinnoenergy.com/co-locations/cc-iberia.html• CIGRÉ: www.cigre.org• Eurelectric Electric Vehicles TaskForce: www.eurelectric.org• ENERGYIN Association:www.energyin.com.pt• REDES 2025 Unique StrategicProject: www.redes2025.com• Gas European Research Group(GERG): www.gerg.eu