ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - n°147 - Mars/Avril 2013 - 20

FoCus

By Stephane QUERE (84)

Sustainable cities
The Group GDF Suez has been involved for many years in sustainability
matters and is deeply engaged in urban development and
Stephane QUERE, the Director explains his plans.
What is at stake and what is
your definition of a sustainable
city?
At the start of this new century, more
than half of our planet’s population
lives in cities. By 2020, there will
be an estimated 19 megacities with
populations of more than 10 million
people, 12 of them in Asia.
A sustainable city is characterized
by its ability to adapt and transform
itself over time, by its userfriendly
design and high quality of life, by
the efficiency of its buildings, its
fluid networks, its security, and how
space is distributed and shared. The
foundations that make a sustainable
city must be envisioned very early
on, even before the design of the
systems and spaces begins.

What are the specificities of your
approach?
We believe that effective and fruitful partnerships
are based on careful listening and a shared vision of the issues. To better meet the needs of its
clients, the Group recommends a solution-based
approach rather than one by profession or activity. This choice allows it to take responsibility,
throughout the design, engineering, construction
and management phases, for economic and environmental rationalization of the energy mix.

Can you give us one example of a
sustainable city?
I can give you the example of London, which
opted in 2012 for a sustainable urban development. The contract was awarded for a 40-year
concession agreement. The Group built two
energy centres, together with approximately
16 km of community energy networks. The project
included construction, financing and operation of
What kind of services are
a heating and cooling network and power stadelivered by your Group?
tions for the Olympic Park and the new Stratford
Demographic growth, the fight
City development zone. The plant to produce
against climate change and the need
combined cold, heat and power will provide 75%
to conserve resources
of the electrical power
are all factors that require
consumption. Thanks to
By 2020, there will be an
us to reconsider urban
the use of renewable
forms. Today’s cities are
energy sources carbon
estimated 19 megacities
becoming denser; a denemissions have been resity that is in fact more
duced of at least 20%.
with populations of more
environmentally friendly
than 10 million people,
and energy-efficient.
What is your
GDF Suez focuses its
ambition in
12 of them in Asia.
businesses on the design
sustainable cities?
of major energy projects,
A lot has to be done
urban installations and
with the development
essential residential solutions: electricity, natural
of smart grids and energy efficiency. The Group
gas, energy services, water and waste services.
actively supports sharing of best practices and
The Group’s strong involvement in research and
participates in international forums and advisory
innovation means that each design represents an
councils devoted to urban development such as
advance in supply security, performance improthe World Economic Forum. To go one step further,
vement and control of environmental impact. A
GDF Suez has created an urban Strategy Council,
preferred partner to developers of new cities and
with 16 international experts from various fields.
eco-district managers, GDF Suez supports its
These initiatives help to create links between the
clients along the entire value chain of energy and
different stakeholders, to identify challenges, shaenvironmental services.
re best practices, and discuss possible solutions
for the future together.
●

- ESCP Europe Magazine N° 147 - Mars/Avril 2013

Table des matières de la publication ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - n°147 - Mars/Avril 2013

Couverture
Zapping
Sommaire
BUSINESS
Personnalités du mois Didier CORDERO (EEMBA 96) : Donner de l’énergie
Focus
- The global energy map
- At the edge of a new age
- Le futur énergétique
- Sustainable cities
- La performance énergétique
- Offshore wind farms
- A change of attitude
- Indian challenges
Itinéraires
- Joaillerie sur mesure
- Tous les chemins mènent à l’énergie
Entretiens Agro-alimentaire
NEWS
Vie du réseau
- Fany PECHIODAT (01 BE), Fondatrice de My Little Paris
- Nominations
- Bon anniversaire !
- Les fauves de la 57
- Carnet
- Passation de relais
- Agenda
À lire
Carrière Énergie managériale : ressource vitale ?
Voyages Chutes Victoria : le premier matin du monde
CAMPUS
École Entering a new era of the energy industry
Fondation Merci pour votre soutien !
Vie étudiante
- cHeer uP ! souffle ses 10 bougies
- Nous voulons l’Europe
- Sur la ligne de départ
- Un avenir où vous allez bien tourner !
- Faire renaître le théâtre

ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - n°147 - Mars/Avril 2013