Digital is the key tool for sustainable transformation, and this is especially true for a complex and crucial sector such as energy. But for this potential not to remain purely theoretical, we need to work as a system, pushing for the creation of the awareness and skills necessary to make digital sustainability a strategic element for the present and future of our country.

It is to cooperate in achieving this goal that E.ON Italia, one of the country’s leading energy operators engaged in the sale of innovative solutions for more efficient energy consumption, has decided to join the Foundation for Digital Sustainability’s network. Daniela Leotta, Chief Strategy, Sustainability and Communication Director of E.ON Italia and new member of the Foundation’s Steering Committee, told us about it: with a degree in Economics, before joining E.ON she worked for several international groups such as Metro, EnBW, EDF and Edison, covering roles in Marketing, Sales, Strategy, Finance and Controlling. She has been with the company since 2008 and has successfully led numerous technology transformation and customer experience improvement projects over the years.

For a ‘new energy’

“For E.ON, sustainability is a strategic pillar: it has oriented and continues to orient our business choices, defines our ambition and reinforces the role of playmaker that we want to have in the energy transition.” This is how Daniela Leotta began, explaining how the company’s commitment in this field, in our country, is also expressed through concrete actions that started from afar, and how it is deeply rooted in the territory. “To give an example, since 2011 with the Boschi E.ON initiative we have already planted over 135,000 trees together with our customers, with the aim of combating climate change through reforestation. Together with our technical partner Rete Clima, we have also set up Biodiversity Labs, which are not just workshops, but awareness-raising tools for visitors regarding the complexity and beauty of biodiversity. All this because we want to realise initiatives that have a real impact on the territories in which we act, involving citizens, schools and partners, to raise awareness and make possible a new energy that comes from a more harmonious balance between innovation, nature and community. It is our responsibility, as also expressed in the group’s claim: It’s on us to make new Energy work’.

Digital as a pillar of sustainable transformation

However, a sustainable transformation, as Daniela Leotta emphasised, especially in a complex sector like energy, is only possible through a conscious adoption of digital. “This is why at E.ON Italia we interpret this challenge as an integrated triple transition – energy, digital and social – that requires a systemic and coordinated approach. Only in this way can we build a future in which technology is not an end in itself, but a tool for concrete, accessible and shared sustainability. Digital for us is the cornerstone of an energy system that is changing so much,’ he explained:

“think of distributed generation linked, for example, to the rise of photovoltaics, which requires an energy system whose components are more flexible, distributed but also accessible. And again, the reduction of waste, the improvement of efficiency and the involvement of citizens are all aspects that go a long way with digital: just think of platforms for the creation of energy communities, which allow, on the one hand, the optimised management of consumption, and on the other, a democratisation of energy by amplifying access to it. In our vision, digital is the possibility of intelligently integrating technology into transformation processes: it is therefore not just adopting digital solutions, but doing so in a logic of impact.

This means, in other words, using the potential of digital technology to enable a transformation that is responsible, sustainable, and takes into account the context – environmental but also social – in which it is implemented. “From this perspective, for us, digital sustainability is fundamental because it represents the bridge between technological innovation, society and the environment: it is very important for us to measure our impact, and digital offers all the tools to do so. This makes digital an opportunity, but also a responsibility. The question today is not whether to use it, but how to use it to foster social equity and reduce pressure on the environment‘.

Together for a common goal

The challenge, therefore, is to create and spread awareness about the meaning and importance of digital sustainability: about the need to look at the risks and opportunities that the new tools open up, in order to direct them in the best way possible towards achieving the goals that sustainability sets before us. And this is a challenge that can only be met through collaboration: “We chose to join the Digital Sustainability Foundation because we believe that complex challenges such as the energy, digital and social transition cannot be tackled alone,” explained Daniela Leotta. “Digital sustainability is a field that is still young but full of opportunities, which should be explored from an ecosystem perspective, together with other actors who share our vision. It is important to work on common metrics, compare best practices and create synergies between companies from different sectors. We are convinced that this network can unite expertise, accelerate change and fuel constructive dialogue on crucial topics such as data ethics, technology governance and the conscious use of digital. Only in this way can digital become a true ally of sustainability, understood not only in an environmental but also in a social sense‘.