Sustainability Practices of Energy Companies: A Case Study of EDF

This research proposal examines the sustainability practices used by EDF to improvise energy efficiency in their business offerings and reduce carbon footprints. It includes a literature review, research methodology, ethical considerations, and a proposed timescale.

Proposal

Table of Contents
TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES OF ENERGY COMPANIES: A CASE STUDY OF
EDF..................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Brief background.........................................................................................................................3
Research rationale.......................................................................................................................3
Research gap...............................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................3
Practical importance of topic......................................................................................................4
RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................4
Research aim...............................................................................................................................4
Research objectives.....................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
In what extent EDF has managed to reduce its carbon footprint on the environment?..............4
How EDF used technology to produce cost effective renewable energy and the methods used
by EDF to improve energy efficiency in business offerings?.....................................................5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................6
ETHICAL CONSIDERATION.......................................................................................................7
PROPOSED TIMESCALE..............................................................................................................7
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................10

TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES OF ENERGY COMPANIES: A
CASE STUDY OF EDF
Introduction
Brief background
Sustainability is defined as using such practices into the business by which negative
impact over the environment can be eliminated. These are the practices which provide long life
to the environment so that scarce resources can be saved and used for longer period of time.
Energy companies is associated with providing greater impact over the environment so that they
can protect the abilities of their future generations to live over the planet and to use natural
resources in desired manner without facing ant scarcity (Caiado and et. al, 2017). In the current
research report is related with examining such practices that can be used by EDF in order to
improvise energy efficiency in their business offerings.
Research rationale
The major rationale behind this research is to collect information related with sustainable
practices used by energy company so that to manage carbon footprints and energy efficiency
(TGARDAZI, HASSAN and JOHARI, 2020). The selected research topic is personal choice of
researcher as researcher is willing to manage their career in this field or industry.
Research gap
The major research gap is that in previous books and journals information was based in
the industry and methods of renewable energy that can be used by the organisation in order to
provide sustainability to the environment. By executing the current research the research gap can
be minimised and in appropriate manner results can be exerted.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 In what extent energy companies has managed to reduce its carbon footprint on the
environment?
 How energy companies used technology to produce cost effective renewable energy and
the methods used by energy companies to improve energy efficiency in business
offerings?

Practical importance of topic
The research topic will generate understanding on methods that can be used by the
organisation in order to manage their carbon emission (Jugend and Figueiredo, 2017). This will
develop belongingness towards the society so that environment assessment can also be made.
RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Research aim
To critically evaluate the sustainability practices used by energy company for the purpose
to reduce carbon footprints and and improve energy efficiency. A study on EDF.
Research objectives
 To critically evaluate the extent to which EDF has managed to reduce its carbon footprint
on the environment
 To critically evaluate how EDF used technology to produce cost effective renewable
energy
 To critically evaluate how EDF improved energy efficiency in their business offerings
LITERATURE REVIEW
In what extent energy companies has managed to reduce its carbon footprint on the
environment?
According to Whelan and Fink, (2016), energy companies has committed to reduce their
CO2 by 40% by by the year of 2018 so that environmental sustainability can be attained. At the
beginning of 2020, the group is admitted in order to attain carbon neutrality by 2050. The
energy companies has managed their new criteria to develop variable remuneration in the year of
2020 so that carbon intensity and CO2 emission as well so that electricity heat generation can be
minimised. In the year of 2020 the energy companies has reinforced trajectory of CO2 which
was validated by Science Based Targets and also established dedicated climate related
governance so that to minimise carbon footprints (Abdallah, 2020). The CO2 emission are at
low level as compared to other electricity producers and in the current time it is decreasing in
steady manner. The carbon intensity improved due to sharp global economic activities.

How energy companies used technology to produce cost effective renewable energy and the
methods used by energy companies to improve energy efficiency in business offerings?
According to Foden and et. al., (2019), renewable energy is defined as the source of
energy which is sustainable in nature and that can not be finished. There are different types of
renewable energy such as solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy and many others. Low-cost
energy technologies are the major technologies used by energy companies so that cost effective
renewable energy within the organisation (Winston Favaloro and Healy, 2022). The organisation
assists in improvising such measures that can be used by the energy companies for the purpose
to reduce CO2 emission and this is considered as the major aspect to attain market competitive
edge. Energy companies assists the organisation to manage breakdown assistance services so
that situation of electricity cut can be minimised and uninterrupted experience can be attained by
the clients.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is regarded as the section which is used in order to accumulate,
evaluate and examining information in systematic and appropriate manner. This assists the
researcher in collecting information in manner in which objectives of the research can be attained
(Rinjit, 2020). Therefore these are the methods which are associated within the research to
manage process of data collection and analysing easier.
Research Philosophy: The research philosophy is of two types such as positivism and
interpretivism. Researcher is going to select interpretivism so that to evaluate and analyse the
information in non-numerical manner.
Research Approach: The research approaches are categorised into two different types
such as inductive and deductive. Researcher will select inductive research approach so that to
maintain their focus on theoretical data.
Research Choice: The research choice is divided into two types such as quantitative and
qualitative research choice. Researcher will choose qualitative research choice within the
research so that to collect the information in theoretical manner rather than using numerical
methods. The major reason of selecting qualitative choice is that it helps in accumulating
theoretical information within timely manner. On the other hand, with the help of qualitative
research in-depth information on the research topic can be gathered so that appropriate
conclusions can be drawn.
Data Collection: Data collection is divided into two types such as primary and
secondary. Researcher within the current research will choose secondary data collection methods
so that to acquire second-hand information by using already available sources (Apuke, 2017).
The secondary sources used within the research would be books, journals and different articles.
Secondary data collection is helpful in managing the research in such manner that in least time
and cost overall results can be acquired.
Research Technique: The research technique undertaken within the current research is
systematic literature review and case study. The techniques will assist the researcher in
developing second-hand information so that research can be executed in systematic manner.
Data analysis Technique: In terms of data analysis thematic analysis will be selected so
that to analyse the research information with relevant and theoretical manner.

Therefore secondary data collection methods will be used within the research so that to
acquire information in systematic and timely manner. There are various issues which are faced
by researcher at the time of managing research in qualitative manner. Issues such as management
of time, lack of funds and not findings appropriate data collection sources are regarded as the
major issues.
Advantages and disadvantage of qualitative research choice method
Advantages
The prominent advantage of qualitative research methods are that it helps in saving cost
for the researcher as already existed data and information can be used. Under qualitative methods
sources such as books, journals and articles are used by researcher (Opoku, Ahmed and Akotia,
2016). The another advantage of qualitative research methods are that in helps in collecting data
within shorter span of time. Another benefit of qualitative methods are that it helps in creating
genuine ideas within research so that valuable content can be created within the research and at
the same time research can be executed in systematic manner.
Disadvantages
The major disadvantage of qualitative research methods are that the data cannot be
presented in statistical manner which leads into misinterpretation of results. This is stated that
with the help of qualitative research methods information cannot be measured in numerical
manner thus first hand information cannot be gathered. The another disadvantage of this research
method is that information collected can be expired which may lead the research to be executed
in outdated manner. This method reduces validity and relevancy of the topic as this is not
possible to collect data aligned with research topic.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
Ethics are considered as the element within the research which is helpful to be followed
so that research can be managed in ethical manner. There are various ethical considerations
which are used within the research such as identification of new information so that research
objectives can be attained easily, maintaining confidentiality within the research so that data can
be secured, communicating research outcomes to all the associated party to authenticate the
whole research process (Almalki, 2016). The research questions will also be answered without
including any biasness and imbalance. The major objective of this project is that to communicate

research outcomes in such manner that relevancy and accuracy can be maintained within
research.
PROPOSED TIMESCALE
Gantt chart is defined as the chart which demonstrate the scheduling of research. Henry
Gantt chart is regarded as the founder of Gantt chart. Gantt chart can be used by the research for
the purpose of scheduling all the activities within research in a manner that in systematic manner
research can be executed. In simple terms it can be said that Gantt chart is able to divide each
and every research activity within time interval so that tracking can be made by research and in
timely manner research can be managed. The current research is going to be completed within 6
weeks of time gap in which all the activities are divided within time duration. This assists the
research in completing the research without facing any delays.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Almalki, S., 2016. Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Mixed Methods Research--
Challenges and Benefits. Journal of education and learning, 5(3), pp.288-296.
Apuke, O.D., 2017. Quantitative research methods: A synopsis approach. Kuwait Chapter of
Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 33(5471), pp.1-8.
Caiado and et. al, 2017. Sustainability analysis in electrical energy companies by similarity
technique to ideal solution. IEEE Latin America Transactions. 15(4), pp.675-681.
Foden and et. al., 2019. The water–energy–food nexus at home: New opportunities for policy
interventions in household sustainability. The Geographical Journal, 185(4), pp.406-
418.
GARDAZI, S.S.N., HASSAN, A.F.S. and JOHARI, J.B., 2020. Board of directors attributes and
sustainability performance in the energy industry. The Journal of Asian Finance,
Economics, and Business, 7(12), pp.317-328.
Jugend, D. and Figueiredo, J., 2017. Integrating environmental sustainability and project
portfolio management: case study in an energy firm. Gestão & Produção, 24, pp.526-
537.
Opoku, A., Ahmed, V. and Akotia, J., 2016. Choosing an appropriate research methodology and
method. Research methodology in the built environment: A selection of case studies, 1,
pp.30-43.
Rinjit, K., 2020. Research methodology.
Whelan, T. and Fink, C., 2016. The comprehensive business case for sustainability. Harvard
Business Review, 21(2016).
Online
Abdallah L., 2020. Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Electricity Sector Using Smart
Electric Grid Applications. [Online]. Available
Through:<https://www.hindawi.com/journals/je/2013/845051/>
Winston, A., Favaloro, G, and Healy, T., 2022. Energy Strategy for the C-Suite.[Online].
Available Through: <https://hbr.org/2017/01/energy-strategy-for-the-c-suite>