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04/11/2022Accelerating the energy transition at the Climate Summit in Egypt, COP27 Iberdrola's CEO, Ignacio Galán, urged last year at COP26 in Glasgow to move from promises to action in commitments to tackle climate change. For the past 20 years, the company has taken on an important leadership role in the decarbonisation of the planet based on electrification with renewable energies. COP26 , which marked five years since the signing of the Paris Agreement, culminated in the Glasgow Climate Pact, which kept alive the goal of curbing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Much progress was also made on zero emissions commitments, forest protection and climate finance. There is no way out of the energy and climate crisis other than accelerating the energy transition and investing in renewables. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the need to boost national energy independence. The most cost-effective way to do this is through renewables, which are key to reducing emissions. Iberdrola, aware of its role as a driving force and benchmark for many other companies in their goal of electrifying the economy and investing in clean energy, will participate daily in various events and meetings of multilateral organisations and alliances, focusing its messages on four main areas: * The war in Ukraine has highlighted the need to accelerate the energy transition, which is the answer to the current energy crisis in addition to the climate crisis. * Business leadership, in a context where there are companies that are hindering and others that are accelerating climate action. * More competitive industrial and energy opportunity in accelerating decarbonisation with renewables, electrification and green hydrogen in all economic sectors: electricity, transport, buildings and industries, including those difficult to decarbonise. * Need for regulatory stability policies and not losing sight of the long term to encourage investment and take advantage of opportunities. * Importance of the social issue: just transition, quality employment opportunities for young people, etc. One of the big goals of COP27 is to act with determination and ambition to mitigate climate change and address many of its impacts, which are already here. In addition to doing everything possible to decrease emissions and slow the pace of global warming, this Climate Summit will address how countries are dealing with the climate consequences that are being felt in such basic sectors as agri-food, through adaptation, climate change mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The fight against climate change is something that we are already experiencing on a daily basis and that, therefore, we have to fight in a great alliance and from different fronts. According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate-related disasters such as droughts, floods and storms are expected to increase in the future. Despite these forecasts, the secretary general of the World Meteorological Organisation, Professor Petteri Taalas, believes that "Europe can play a key role in achieving a carbon neutral society by mid-century and fulfilling the Paris Agreement". Iberdrola, a pioneer in renewable energies and leader in the wind energy sector, continues to invest heavily in research into new renewable energy generation technologies. The company believes that everyone's work is key to improving the quality of our environment and, therefore, mitigating the effects of climate change. READ MORE
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03/11/2022We successfully supply green hydrogen to CAF in Zaragoza for the dynamic tests of the FCH2RAIL project demonstrator train Iberdrola has successfully completed the supply of green hydrogen to CAF in Zaragoza for the on-track dynamic tests of the hydrogen-powered demonstrator train of the FCH2Rail project. The solution for supplying hydrogen consisted of transporting it from Iberdrola's hydrogen plant in operation in Barcelona's Zona Franca, the first to be commissioned in Spain for commercial use, to Zaragoza, and the installation of a dispensing solution that allowed the train's tanks to be loaded with the greatest guarantees of operability and safety. This is the first time that green hydrogen has been refilled in a semi-trailer for distribution in a commercial hydrogen station of these characteristics. These tests reaffirm the commitment of Iberdrola and CAF, which have formed an alliance to promote the use of green hydrogen in the railway sector and in passenger transport, born of the conviction of both companies to offer comprehensive sustainable mobility solutions, ranging from the supply of rolling stock and refuelling infrastructure to green hydrogen production plants and renewable energy infrastructures. Aragon, a pole of sustainable innovation Iberdrola's first supply of green hydrogen to CAF confirms Iberdrola's interest in driving the development chain in the region, as the company plans to supply green hydrogen to CAF for this project and others to be developed by other companies from the future hydrogen plant of the Green Mobility PLAZA project, in a region that is a pioneer in research thanks to the work of the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation. Iberdrola is leading this project, which envisages the construction of a hydrogen plant at the PLAZA Logistics Platform in Zaragoza that will enable the production and supply of green hydrogen to road and rail transport and thus move towards increasingly sustainable mobility. The project, which continues to make progress in its search for European subsidies and is working on the consolidation of demand, already has land at an advanced stage of negotiation within PLAZA. In addition, the hydrogen project is accompanied by an ultra-fast r echarging station with 180 kW chargers that will allow two heavy electric vehicles or four light electric vehicles to be recharged which, due to the strategic location and the power considered, will be essential to promote the electrification of transport on the A-2 axis and will contribute to the decarbonisation of the Plaza Logistics Platform. New technological challenge In its commitment to leading the energy transition, Iberdrola is spearheading the development of green hydrogen with more than 60 projects to respond to the electrification and decarbonisation needs of sectors such as industry and heavy transport. It is thus at the forefront of the new technological challenge posed by the production and supply of hydrogen from 100% renewable energy sources in the electrolysis process. The company is the first to make green hydrogen a reality and, in addition to the Barcelona facility commissioned in January, it has already inaugurated in Puertollano the largest green hydrogen plant for industrial use in Europe using 100% renewable electricity in the electrolysis process for the production of ammonia and green fertilisers at the Fertiberia plant in Puertollano (Ciudad Real), thus consolidating Iberdrola as a benchmark company in the application of this sustainable technology. READ MORE
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02/11/2022Iberdrola advances its photovoltaic deployment in Portugal with a new plant Iberdrola is making progress in its photovoltaic deployment in Portugal with the completion of the construction of the Conde plant, located in the municipality of Palmela, in the district of Setúbal (Lisbon region). With an installed capacity of 13.5 megawatts (MW), the plant will prevent the emission into the atmosphere of 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The installation has 25,000 solar modules that will produce enough clean, cheap and indigenous energy to cover the annual consumption of 5,000 households. The project, which has involved an investment of close to 11 million euros, has generated up to 100 jobs, mostly local. This is the company's second photovoltaic installation in Portugal, after the 27 MW Algeruz II plant, which is already in operation following its commissioning last August in the district of Setúbal. Both photovoltaic farms belong to the batch obtained by Iberdrola in the public auction held in 2019 by the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment and Energy Transition, through the Directorate General for Energy and Geology, and organised by the Operador do Mercado Ibérico de Energia (OMIP), in which the company was the largest successful bidder with a total of seven projects. The Alcochete I and II solar power plants, which are currently under construction in the town of the same name, also belong to this batch. The work, which will be completed this year, will create up to 180 jobs. With a combined capacity of 45.6 MW, both projects involve an investment of 38 million euros. These parks will have bifacial solar modules, which increase energy production by up to 30% compared to traditional panels because both sides of the panel are able to absorb the sun's energy. In addition, bifacial cells reduce the average cost of electricity by 16%. The plants will also have a tracking system that allows the modules to move according to the path of the sun, thus maximising energy capture and extending the useful life of the plant, as it suffers less degradation. Thus, when they come into operation, Alcochete I and II will be able to supply enough green energy to meet the needs of 26,400 homes for a year, which is more than the total population of the municipality of Alcochete. The batch obtained by Iberdrola is completed with the 36.5 MW Montechoro I and II projects in Paderne (Albufeira) and the 64 MW Carregado project in Alenquer (Lisbon), which is in the process of obtaining a construction permit. When all these facilities come into operation, Iberdrola will have 187 MW of photovoltaic capacity in Portugal. More than 2,000 MW photovoltaic The company is committed to becoming one of the main promoters of photovoltaic solar energy in Portugal, one of the most efficient technologies in the fight against climate change, capable of adapting to natural cycles and weather conditions to produce renewable, inexhaustible and competitive energy. Iberdrola has an extensive portfolio to develop 2,000 MW of photovoltaic power in different parts of the country in the coming years. In addition, the group plans to build a wind power complex linked to the mega pumped-storage hydroelectric plant that the company has inaugurated in Alto Tâmega, in northern Portugal. These facilities will turn the complex into a hybrid generation plant and, with 400 MW of installed capacity, constitute one of the largest wind power projects in Portugal. The Tâmega gigabattery , the largest clean energy initiative in the country's history, has three dams and three power plants (Gouvães, Daivões and Alto Tâmega) with a combined capacity of 1,158 MW and will be able to store the energy consumed by eleven million people a day in their homes. Iberdrola already operates 92 MW of wind power in Portugal, spread over three wind farms: Catefica, in the municipality of Torres Vedras, with 18 MW; Alto do Monção, in Mortágua and Tondela, with 32 MW; and Serra do Alvão, in Ribeira de Pena, with 42 MW. Together, these plants produce 200 GWh per year, equivalent to the electricity used by 35,000 households. The Iberdrola group began its commitment to renewable energies more than two decades ago as a fundamental pillar on which to build its clean, reliable and intelligent business model. Thanks to this vision, the company is spearheading the energy transition towards a low-emission economy and is today a world leader in renewable energies, with more than 39,000 MW of renewable capacity installed worldwide. READ MORE
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26/10/2022Iberdrola announces its financial results for Q3 2022
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21/10/2022We collect the world's first organic solar honey at the Campo Arañuelo photovoltaic plant Iberdrola has recently collected the solar honey produced at the Campo Arañuelo III photovoltaic plant in Cáceres, a new milestone in the solar honey production project that the company started in 2020 together with the Extremaduran company Tesela Natura, part of the Ecoenergías del Guadiana Group. The photovoltaic plants become very useful spaces for generating pure honey, while at the same time offering beekeepers safe spaces, free from theft and pesticides. A few months ago, following a study of the different locations of beehives by the Extremadura Organic Farming Committee, this solar plant was awarded the status of organic land, giving rise to the world's first organic honey. The harvesting season is now over and honey has been collected from the 40 hives that were introduced next to the photovoltaic panels that generate emission-free green energy. For Nicolás Antón, head of Iberdrola Renovables in Extremadura, "this project is an example of the good integration that can be achieved between clean energy and biodiversity. The photovoltaic space can have other uses that also benefit the entire surrounding area with pollination that enriches the ecosystem". For Beatriz Román, director of Tesela Natura, "the honey produced in the solar plants is far away from pesticides, allowing the bees to work quietly and without noise and the beekeepers to leave their hives there without fear of theft, which is one of the main problems faced by the sector". Between 2022 and 2023, the project plans to expand to other regions of Spain, such as Castilla La Mancha, and will continue in Andalusia, where honey has already been collected at the Andévalo photovoltaic plant. The Arañueño III photovoltaic plant (40 MW), located in the Cáceres municipality of Romangordo, is the first photovoltaic project in Spain to incorporate a storage system, in this case, a battery with 3 MW of power and 9 MWh of storage capacity. This installation is part of the Campo Arañuelo complex, located in the Almaraz region, made up of the Arañuelo I, II and III photovoltaic plants, which have an installed capacity of 143 MW and will prevent the emission of 41,000 t CO2/year into the atmosphere. Living with biodiversity In March 2021, 162 beehives were already installed at the Andévalo photovoltaic plant (Huelva) with the aim of preserving biodiversity in the environment and protecting a species such as bees, while advancing in the strategy of decarbonising the economy. 60 kilos of honey produced in the photovoltaic plant were collected and given to various women's associations in the area. The honey was used to make artisanal sweets that were sold at a charity market, the proceeds of which will go to those affected by the volcano on La Palma. Iberdrola has also recently started up the first intelligent agrovoltaic plant in Spain at the González Byass and Grupo Emperador vineyards located in the town of Guadamur, Toledo. This innovative installation allows the layout of the modules to be adapted to the needs of the vineyards, in order to regulate the incidence of the sun and the temperature by means of the shade of the panels. Iberdrola has carried out more than 1,450 biodiversity protection actions in the last three years, combining the installation of renewable projects with the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems, caring for flora, fauna and natural heritage. READ MORE
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20/10/2022We join forces with BBVA to boost energy savings with sustainable solutions Iberdrola, a world leader in solar and wind energy, has reached an agreement with BBVA to offer individuals and companies in Spain sustainable energy solutions that enable them to save on their bills and improve their energy efficiency. To this end, the bank's customers will be able to access personalised energy saving proposals from BBVA branches or from its app, including, among others, self-consumption solutions, charging points for electric vehicles and energy efficiency measures such as aerothermal energy, all of which are known as Iberdrola Smart products. The offer of these products will include the processing of all existing public subsidies. In addition, the bank offers financing for all Iberdrola's sustainable product offers. With this strategic alliance, BBVA and Iberdrola take another step forward in their goal of continuing to help their customers towards a sustainable transition. To facilitate energy-saving solutions, companies and individuals interested in contracting Iberdrola's Smart products will be able to do so directly through the bank's channels from start to finish. Thanks to this collaboration agreement with Iberdrola, BBVA will initially offer personalised advice and diagnosis, with a turnkey service, for the contracting and installation of Smart Solar, Iberdrola's self-consumption product. This energy-saving solution will gradually be joined by other energy efficiency options, such as aerothermal energy, which will help to reduce energy bill costs while adopting sustainable solutions. In the case of self-consumption, once the customer requests the information through the entity's physical or digital channel, they will be able to access a personalised simulation and find out which installation is the most suitable according to their profile. This simulation will show the savings on their energy bills and the possible financing quota, if they wish to finance the cost of the installation. From there, and through a turnkey service, Iberdrola will provide the customer with an offer, as well as the installation of the energy solution and the management of the possible subsidies for which they may be eligible linked to energy efficiency. If the customer wants to access this service from a BBVA branch, a manager specialising in sustainability will request the necessary data for the simulation, while customers who opt for the digital channel will be able to do so directly by accessing an Iberdrola simulator incorporated into the BBVA mobile app. In addition, in order to install energy-saving solutions, BBVA offers customised financing such as a specific solution, Autoconsumo Solar (Solar Self-consumption), with no fees and a term of up to 10 years for 100% of the investment, or the Energy Efficiency loan with an interest rate rebate. In addition, all Iberdrola customers, whether individuals, companies or homeowners' associations, who contract self-consumption, energy efficiency and recharging point solutions will be eligible for the bank's range of financial products if they need to finance the cost of their installation. "At Iberdrola, we are firmly committed to the decarbonisation of the planet and to progress in the electrification of the economy and, in particular, of households and businesses. For this reason, we provide sustainable measures based on clean energy, savings and energy efficiency of interest to all of them", said Juan Antonio López, head of Iberdrola Alliances in Spain. Jacobo Anaya, BBVA's Director of Energy and Sustainability in Spain, said: "At BBVA we want to provide all our customers, companies, SMEs and individuals, with simple solutions that enable them to save energy while making progress in their ecological transition. This agreement allows us to do so hand in hand with one of the leaders in the sector in Spain. Sustainability, a strategic priority for Iberdrola and BBVA With the aim of helping customers in their ecological transition, BBVA established sustainability as one of its strategic priorities years ago. The bank is one of the most ambitious European banks in its goal to mobilise sustainable financing. It has recently raised its target for sustainable financing between 2018 and 2025 to €300 billion, three times its initial commitment, a figure that by June 2022 amounts to €112 billion. Now, it is going a step further with an 'Energy Saving Plan', which seeks to raise awareness, advise and accompany individuals, SMEs and companies in improving their financial health through energy saving. Strategic alliances such as the one reached with a strategic partner such as Iberdrola play a key role in this plan. BBVA thus converts its commitment to sustainability into tangible actions that help its customers to make decisions on their path towards more sustainable lifestyles and business models. Iberdrola leads the photovoltaic self-consumption market in Spain, managing 40% of customers with surplus compensation, having consolidated its position as the benchmark company in the sector with a 75% increase in its self-consumption portfolio so far this year. The company has also made self-consumption available to any type of customer, whether or not they have their own roof or not, through solar communities. As part of its commitment to accelerating the energy transition and developing new products to improve efficiency and energy savings, in 2015 the company became the first company in its sector to integrate self-consumption, electric mobility and energy efficiency solutions into its service offering, and is a leader in all these segments. READ MORE
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18/10/2022The Museum of the American Revolution recognises Spain's contribution to the independence of the United States Spain's important contribution to the birth and formation of the United States is already present in the Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia), which has just added to its collection a portrait of the revolutionary Stephen Minor, who fought with the Spanish army under the command of Bernardo de Gálvez. The painting, attributed to William Edward West around 1809, has been restored and donated to this institution by Iberdrola. The piece was presented in Philadelphia at an event attended by Scott Stephenson, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution, Ricardo Añino, Political Counsellor of the Spanish Embassy in the United States, and Rafael Orbegozo, Advisor to the Chairman's Office of the Iberdrola Group. The portrait thus joins the Museum's collection along with an explanatory panel that highlights Spain's role as a key ally of the Revolutionary cause and recalls the figure of Minor, who joined Spain's army in Louisiana to recapture Florida from the British in 1780 and 1781. Known as 'Don Esteban' Minor, he was appointed captain of the Spanish forces under Bernardo de Gálvez for his service during the Siege of Pensacola and, after the war, became the last Spanish governor of Natchez before it was ceded to the United States in 1798. In addition, during Hispanic Heritage Month the Museum will offer daily lectures on Spain's contribution to American independence during the American Revolution. Between 1775 and 1782 Spain sent arms, material and funds worth the equivalent of $3 billion today. In addition, thousands of Hispanic soldiers and sailors contributed their lives to the birth of the new nation. The donation of this portrait is part of Iberdrola's Unveiling Memories project, which aims to leave a permanent legacy of Spain's and Latinos' and Hispanics' crucial contribution to American independence. As part of this initiative, the book "Desvelando memorias " (Unveiling Memories) was presented at the former residence of the Spanish ambassadors in Washington DC. Through a series of articles written by experts in the field, the book reviews numerous episodes and historical figures that have remained largely unknown to the general public in the United States and Spain. Along with this publication, an educational app called "Quizstory: Spanish Friendship", developed by the company in collaboration with the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, was also presented. This tool, aimed at US students between 10 and 18 years of age, aims to disseminate the Hispanic contribution to the War of Independence through a game. "As a leading sustainable energy company, Iberdrola is committed to the growth of our communities, and we are proud of our dual Hispanic-American roots," said Pedro Azagra, CEO of AVANGRID, a subsidiary of the Iberdrola group in the United States. "Through memorials, exhibitions and educational tools, such as the book and app we have launched and the restored portrait donated to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, our Unveiling Memories project seeks to shed light on the legacy of a story that has gone untold for centuries. Commitment to the dissemination of culture and the USA Within the framework of the Unveiling Memories project, Iberdrola promotes numerous activities that include exhibitions, permanent commemorations, donations of historical materials to museums, seminars, publications, online resources, and support for training and research in this field. These initiatives are part of the company's commitment to the promotion and dissemination of art and culture, and demonstrate its close ties with the United States, where, through its subsidiary AVANGRID, it has established itself as one of the leading companies in the energy sector. In less than two decades, AVANGRID has become one of the largest groups in the North American electricity sector. Present in 24 states, it has more than 8,500 MW of installed renewable capacity (mainly wind and photovoltaic) and more than 170,000 kilometres of power lines through eight distributors in New York, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts. The company currently employs more than 7,350 people directly and contributes indirectly to the creation of some 70,000 jobs, with a contribution of more than €10 billion to the country's GDP. READ MORE
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18/10/2022Galán calls for more Europe and more electrification to combat energy crisis The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, who spoke today at the 10th German-Spanish Forum, called for "more Europe and more electrification, as this will lead to greater growth and more jobs". At the forum, held today in Berlin and attended by His Majesty King Felipe and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Galán stated that the energy crisis suffered by the European Union stems from the gas market. In order to solve it in a lasting way, it is necessary to advance in the energy transition through electrification and to build a real union, said Galán. At the forum, which was organised by the Liz Mohn Centre of the Bertelsmann Foundation and Telefónica with the support of Fundación ICO, under the theme 'Building together a digital and sustainable future in Europe', Iberdrola's chairman gave a positive assessment of EU initiatives such as Green Deal , Fit for 55 and RePower Europe. The European proposals aim to electrify the economy to become less dependent on coal and natural gas, and to achieve energy independence. The solution is renewable energy , smart grids and storage, and the amount of investment needed until 2030 is estimated at €1.2 trillion. Regulatory stability and clear frameworks are essential to mobilise huge private investments. Thus, the Iberdrola chairman advocated unifying policies with integrated markets and tax systems, more interconnections, common administrative processes and incentives in the EU. "I believe that Germany and Spain can do a lot together to push for further integration," he told the forum. Green hydrogen is an example of how joint EU policies can be improved. The EU has set a target of 10 million tonnes by 2030, which will require an additional €300 billion of investment. However, public support will be €5.2 billion. Meanwhile, in the United States, for a similar amount of this hydrogen, support is around $100 billion. Galán took part in the round table discussion entitled 'How to be more competitive through digitalisation and sustainability', in which José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman of Telefónica; Belén Garijo, President and CEO of Merck; Nico Hofmann, CEO of UFA, and Klaus Rosenfeld, President and CEO of Schaeffler also took part. Executives pointed out that digitalisation and sustainability are key factors in strategic planning, with a direct impact on business in industry, banking, tourism and commerce. They are seen as both challenges and opportunities for Europe's economic and social recovery. READ MORE
