The independent panel of judges chose Houston-based EDP Renewables North America chief executive Sandhya Ganapathy to win the IJGlobal ESG Awards 2024 trophy for outstanding individual.

Sandhya was lauded by the judges for her “clear vision and impact” while another said it was “fundamental to see commitment and leadership at this level”.

Another of the judges added: “As the submission points out, Sandhya’s vision is demonstrated through the new investments being made in battery storage and hydrogen. This shows how EDPR NA has been more focused on environmental justice and community climate resiliency building… which is ideal.”

Sandhya is at the centre of the energy transition, enacting impactful ESG initiatives and embodying EDPR’s corporate byline We Choose Earth.

She leads one of the top 5 renewable energy IPPs/developers in North America, operating more than 9.6GW of onshore utility-scale renewable energy projects across North America.

According to the submission: “Sandhya aspires to be a leader who spearheads EDPR NA’s mission and strategy, keeping a people-focused agenda at the centre of her strategy.

“Sandhya has spearheaded growth in several different areas of the company at once, from business units ranging from development to ESG and ED&I.

“She looks at each area and department of the company for its unique points of strength and weaknesses and looks for opportunities to challenge the status quo in promoting diversity. This approach also extends externally.

“The recently announced partnership between EDPR NA and Volt Energy Utility with Microsoft, which is focused on environmental justice and resilience building, underscores her goals to focus on our ESG goals and practices.

“In addition, EDPR NA’s effort with SOLARCYCLE and 20 other partners through the Close the Loop Program highlights the company’s commitment to a circular economy focused on materials recycling in North America.”

EDPR has been at the centre of building a Net Zero economy for years, operating with ESG practices along the value chain of all its renewable energy projects.

Sandhya believes in a strong ESG culture and that ESG is vital to both protecting and empowering human life spanning the development of its projects to the production of clean electrons to give all communities – no matter their socio-economic status – equitable access to affordable, reliable and clean energy.

She believes that EDPR NA’s core business – tied to its ESG principles – not only delivers on the development and operation of quality wind farms, solar facilities, and storage assets, but also inherently contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, aiding the world’s fight against climate change.

Ultimately, while making a point to support these areas at EDPR NA, Sandhya believes that through ESG, her team members are ”future proofing” the company and providing resilience not only for EDPR NA but also for its team members, the communities it serves, and the world for years to come.

A few other ESG goals EDPR NA has enacted while under Sandhya’s leadership include:

• EDP Group – aims to go Net Zero by 2040
• the group aims to decarbonise for a climate-positive world, with renewables deployment to increase to 4GW per year, reaching 17GW gross additions in 2026
• one of the group’s 2026 corporate targets includes total recovered waste at 85%, with a 2030 ambition of 90% total waste recovered
• the company also has a 2026 target with 100% of facilities worldwide with high biodiversity risks to have action plans defined and tracking systems worldwide. Its 2030 aim includes 100% biodiversity net gain in new projects

Meanwhile, on the social front, EDP has committed to collaborative external efforts to promote industry-wide inclusion in the renewables sector.

The company has a goal to increase the percentage of women employees to 36% by 2026 and 40% by 2030, and women employees in leadership to 31% by 2026 and 35% by 2030.

EDPR NA became the first IPP/developer in North America to open a solar and wind technician training facility in 2023 in Bloomington, IL that will train more than 1,000 technicians annually.

On the governance front, Sandhya has played a key role in driving:

• 100% of its suppliers (purchases greater than €25,000) to be compliant with ESG due diligence by 2026
• by 2026, 70% of employees are to receive ESG training, with this target increasing to 90% by 2030
• it also has 100% of its operational capacity certified in ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 
• EDPR NA has adopted a Revolutionized Management Approach through remuneration links to strategy execution, including value creation and ESG

As one of the only female CEOs from a diverse background leading an IPP/developer in the US renewables sector, Sandhya has been a champion of EDPR NA’s commitment to diversity across all leadership levels.

According to the submission: “Sandhya has committed to facilitating EDPR’s goal to increase the percentage of women employees to 36% by 2026 and 40% by 2030, and women employees in leadership to 31% by 2026 and 35% by 2030.

“She continues to position EDPR NA as the leading champion of STEM education and workforce development opportunities in North America, advocating for STEM education among students through the company’s partnership with the Black Girls Do Engineer organisation, and building stakeholder alliances through her board work with the ACP, ACORE, SEIA, WRISE and the Renewable Energy Alliance-Houston.”