In 2021, EDP made a pledge to be 100% green by 2030 and coal free by 2025. Among an ambitious energy transition plan, EDP doubled its investment in renewable energies until 2026, also started dismantling its fossil fuel power plants.

Following this, EDP made a rebranding repositioning EDP as a leading energy company. With the brand signature “We Choose Earth” this new identity reflected EDP’s way of being and commitment to the planet. As Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP Group, recalled: “It is the responsibility of us all to fight for change so that the future of our planet is sustainable and, more importantly, to be part of this change.”

EDP is one on the main investors in art in Portugal, with 11M annual investment, EDP Art Reef aligns art and nature in a higher purpose of raise awareness about sustainability and circular economy.

EDP challenged Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils, one of the most renowned public art and award-winning artist in the world, to use parts of the dismantled EDP’s fossil fuel power plants putting art at service to society.

Known for his unique form of artistic expression and align with the same vision, we knew that Vhils would give it an artistic meaning and a new public function.

And so, emerges “EDP Art Reef”, the first underwater exhibition in Portugal, an artificial art reef using pieces taken from dismantled EDP thermal power stations with the aim to create a new underwater life ecosystem.

Composed by 6 sets / 13 pieces, it came to life in Albufeira (Portugal). A mile off the coast and around 12 meters deep, the underwater exhibition can now be visited by divers with the appropriate certification.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts03Wbp7l7o&t=15s

The EDP Art Reef aims to use art to raise awareness about the energy transition and circular economy. For this outstanding and unprecedented project, we involved over 200 people with diverse expertise and backgrounds (such as biologists, engineers, etc) in collaboration with various public and private entities, requiring significant effort and the generation of new knowledge from the ground up.

The implementation of the project took over 3 years until the submersion.

To ensure that society could closely follow its progress, a web video series was produced, streamed on our website (https://www.edp.com/en/edp-art-reef), and promoted on our social media platforms, allowing everyone to witness the entire process from the initial idea to the submersion. Additionally, a pre-exhibition was, set up at EDP headquarters in Lisbon, featuring some of the art pieces and a photo exhibition before the submersion so that everyone could testimony the scale and the impact of this project.

During 3 years, EDP Art Reef was developed with the scientific knowledge of the Centre of Marine Sciences of the University of Algarve (CCMAR) and support from the Municipality of Albufeira, Turismo de Portugal, and other entities. It was validated by the General Directorate of Natural Resources and the Portuguese Environment Agency.

The exhibition covers 1250m2 with 13 pieces, 8 made of iron and 5 made of concrete, placed around 12 meters deep a mil in Albufeira coast (in Portugal).

It was designed to ensure that serves as a positive environmental asset for the local ecosystem. Marine biologists provided technical support throughout, and the pieces were designed to allow the passage of local fauna. Live corals rescued and preserved in captivity were installed at the base to facilitate natural renewal. The ongoing monitoring by the scientific team will support scientific and environmental study, in addition to its cultural and awareness aspects.

Since the launch of EDP Art Reef, it has garnered over 200 news articles with a favorability rating of 4.9 and a net return of approximately 839k€. The accompanying video series has impacted over 1.5 million people and collected more than 7.5 million impressions.

Beyond its media coverage, this initiative has a significant impact on society, driving decarbonization and circular economy, raising awareness about environmental protection, ensuring biodiversity and rescue of marine life, contributing to scientific and environmental study. The exhibition also boosts the local economy and serves as a cultural and touristic attraction, promoting sustainability and the role of humanity in preserving the planet.

Following its inauguration, the exhibition has attracted daily visits from certified divers, with over 2000 divers counted so far, making the Algarve a unique cultural diving destination.