Press releases
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24/10/2023Ignacio Galán reaffirms Iberdrola's commitment to the Basque Country with Lehendakari Urkullu The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán , met today in Vitoria-Gasteiz with the Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu. The meeting, at the headquarters of the Basque Government - Lehendakaritza - is part of the regular meetings between the Chairman of the company, based in Bilbao, and the authorities of the Basque institutions. Chairman Galán reaffirmed Iberdrola's commitment to the Basque Country. This is reflected in the data: the Basque electricity company had a socio-economic impact on the BAC of close to 2,700 million euros in 2022 as a result of its activity. Investments in the Basque Country amounted to 241 million euros, and the fiscal contribution - 400 million euros - contributed more than 2% of the total Basque GDP. To this must be added payments to suppliers, salaries... Iberdrola made purchases from nearly 600 Basque suppliers for more than 1,700 million euros. Iberdrola's main suppliers in the Basque Country include Ormazabal, SGRE, Ingeteam, Arteche, Mesa, Lizelan, etc. Iberdrola thus contributes to the structuring of the territory and the creation of industrial and innovation opportunities in a growing market with a high export component. These collaborations represent an opportunity to develop a value chain in the regions in which it is based and to position Spanish industry as an international benchmark. Iberdrola's commitment to the Basque Country promotes the revitalisation of Basque industry and the improvement of the competitiveness of its business fabric, as well as the creation of quality employment in sectors of the future. Iberdrola's global growth is thus a driving force for the internationalisation of hundreds of Basque companies, which have been demonstrating for years their ability to provide products and services of the highest quality and competitiveness around the world. READ MORE
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24/10/2023Iberdrola awarded 790 hectares of land by ForstBW for wind energy in Germany Iberdrola Deutschland has been awarded three wind energy sites in the latest tender by Forst Baden-Württemberg (ForstBW). Wind farms with an expected number of 25 wind turbines (WTGs) will be built on a total of 790 hectares (ha). With a potential total capacity of between 170 and 200 megawatts (MW), the wind farms could supply approximately 112,000 households with renewable energy and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions by about 252,000 tonnes per year. Felipe Montero, CEO of Iberdrola Deutschland, commented on the success by saying: "We are delighted to have been awarded the contract by ForstBW and will now enter the detailed planning stage. Projects of this kind emphasise Iberdrola Deutschland's ambitions in the onshore business area and validate our integrated growth and investment strategy." In the planning, construction and operation of wind farms, Iberdrola Deutschland relies on local value chains. Local authorities and citizens are of course also involved in the successful implementation of this case. ForstBW's awards In order to further promote the expansion of wind energy, a total of 21 individual sites have been put out to tender since 2021 as part of a marketing offensive. The award process took place in three tranches. In the course of which, about 3,000 ha of wind power sites were made available in the short term for future planning. The wind turbines that will be constructed on these areas will make an important contribution to a sustainable energy future in the region and the decarbonisation of the industry. About ForstBW Since 1 January 2020, the public law institution Forst Baden-Württemberg (ForstBW) has been responsible for the management of over 300,000 ha of state forest and is the largest forestry company in the state. ForstBW aims to work in an ecologically exemplary, socially balanced and economically successful manner. In the interest of the forest and the people, the principle of sustainability forms the basis of our activities. Approximately 1,800 employees throughout the state contribute to this. For further information, please visit the ForstBW website. READ MORE
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19/10/2023Iberdrola installs first turbine of Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm Iberdrola has completed installation of the first turbine at the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm. Each turbine will provide power to more than 6,000 homes and businesses. Comprising a tower, three blades and a nacelle, it has a rated capacity of 13 megawatts, making it the largest turbine in the world. In addition, the transition parts of the turbines have been manufactured in Avilés by the Asturian company Windar Renovables. "This is a monumental achievement and a proud day for offshore wind in the United States, demonstrating that this industry is real and Iberdrola's strong commitment to helping the Northeast region meet its climate and clean energy goals," said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. He added that the installation of the first turbine is a milestone for this pioneering project in the nation and for the industry, but that the company remains focused "on the important work ahead to continue the successful campaign to install these massive turbines and deliver the first power to Massachusetts homes and businesses later this year". Once the project, located 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard and 34 miles south of the Cape Cod peninsula, completes construction and comes online, it will have an output of 800 MW, producing enough clean energy to meet the power needs of more than 400,000 homes and businesses across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The project will also prevent the emission of more than 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of removing 325,000 vehicles from the road. The Vineyard Wind I project, which began construction in 2021 and is expected to come online in 2024, will involve an investment of $3 billion, secured through contracts with the state's three major electric utilities. READ MORE
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13/10/2023Iberdrola progress its renewable energy strategy: the company installs almost 3,000 MW in the last twelve months Iberdrola continues to move at pace with its commitment to being at the forefront of the energy transition, accelerating decarbonization and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The company has installed almost 3,000 MW of new renewables capacity (2,952 MW) in the last 12 months, which means it has reached a total capacity of 41,303 MW of clean energy at the end of September, according to data published today in the National Commission of the Stock Market (CNMV). Strong investment in renewables has allowed clean energy production to grow by 6.1%, to 58,742 GWh between January and September, compared to the same period last year. By technology, strong growth has been delivered in Iberdrola's solar PV capacity, which increased by 45.6% in the last 12 months (1,697 MW of new installed capacity) to reach a total of 5,420 MW at the end of the third quarter of 2023. Solar PV now accounts for 13% of the company’s total renewable energy capacity. The company also continues to be a global leader in wind power. Offshore wind power has advanced by 28.6%, to 1,618 MW, at the end of September 2023 (360 MW added). Recently Iberdrola connected the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm to the grid, which it is building in the waters of Brittany in France. It is the first large-scale offshore wind project in Brittany and the second in France to produce clean energy. Meanwhile, onshore wind power has grown by 4.5% in the last twelve months (900 MW added) to reach a total capacity of 20,764 MW. In the third quarter, the exchange of the hydroelectric plants (Dardanelos and Telepires) in Brazil with Eletrobras has also been carried out, as reported by the company on September 27. Iberdrola is currently progressing with its record 47 billion euros investment plan between 2023 and 2025, which aims to see 52,000 MW of renewables installed by 2025. In offshore wind alone the company has planned investments of over 11 billion euros by 2026. One of the cleanest portfolios in the world The greater contribution of renewable energy means Iberdrola has increased its emission-free production ratio to 81%, which rises to 86% in Spain. The company maintains a CO2 emission level of around 66% below its European competitors. In terms of installed capacity, the investments made by the company mean that more than 81% of its own generation is emissions-free, rising to 91% in the United States, 88% in Brazil, with the United Kingdom remaining 100% green electricity generation. READ MORE
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11/10/2023Galán: "We need to increase investment in networks to make the energy transition possible" Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, this morning called for accelerated investment in grids. "We need to increase investment in electricity grids to make the energy transition possible," he said at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) summit, which brought together the sector's main leaders in London. The president said that in order to decarbonise the economy, there must be a greater commitment to the grids. "For every euro invested in renewables, one euro must be invested in electricity grids," he said. In fact, Galán estimates that investments in grids will be multiplied by three or four to be able to integrate new renewable power, offer security of supply and resilience against extreme weather phenomena and be able to develop the digitalization of the system, so necessary for the expansion of electric mobility, self-consumption and heat pumps. "Energy companies are ready to invest because we have the technology, the people, the talent and the capacity to make it happen. It is vital that regulators recognize this need and create the conditions for this to happen. To be able to invest in grids we need predictability, stability and attractive returns," said the Executive Chairman. Aware of the potential of electricity grids in the transition, two-thirds of the company's investment plan for 2023 and 2025 - the company plans to invest €47 billion in its plan - will be allocated to the electricity grid activity, with the aim of giving continuity to its deployment, consolidating a solid distribution grid and providing it with flexibility, based on an ambitious digitalisation process as a key element to respond to the future needs of the electricity system. Iberdrola already operates one of the largest electricity distribution systems in the world; more than 1.3 million kilometers of power lines and more than 4,500 substations, distributing electricity to more than 35 million people worldwide. READ MORE
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10/10/2023The El Escudo wind farm will be the first in the world to use BIM methodology to reduce its impact The El Escudo wind farm will be the first in the world to use BIM (Building Information Modelling) methodology for its construction, with the aim of carrying out exhaustive control and guaranteeing that environmental and heritage protection criteria are met in every part of the process. This is a pioneering experience, which has already taken its first steps in the world of building and other public and civil works facilities, but which is making its debut in the development of wind power facilities at the El Escudo wind farm. The Cantabrian engineering company INGECID, which emerged as a spin-off from the University of Cantabria and is already successfully implementing it in other unique installations in Europe and also in Spain, such as the Bank underground station in London, the decommissioning of the Garoña nuclear power plant or the construction of what will be the future logistics base of the Spanish Army. The BIM methodology brings added quality to any construction process, bringing together in a specific software all the information from all the specialists involved in the design and execution of a project. In this way, it is capable of carrying out a reliable 3D modelling of what will be, in this case, the Escudo Wind Farm, anticipating possible problems or mismatches between the different layers of such a complex project. But in addition to anticipating a digital twin of what will be a physical structure, this technology processes and interrelates a huge volume of information - tens of thousands of documents - so that professionals experience an improved work experience in terms of information management. Thus, the use of the BIM methodology is a guarantee to support the step by step, from the projected idea to the effective execution, avoiding errors, saving costs and time and facilitating, in short, that the entire construction process is developed without incidents and rigorously complying with the measures established to minimise its impact. The adoption of this methodology is a further commitment by Biocantaber to provide the El Escudo wind farm with the most innovative technology, as it did in the choice of the model of modern, high-power wind turbines, which will allow it to produce more energy by installing fewer machines and reducing land occupation. Sustainable development These are not the only measures contemplated by Biocantaber to make the Escudo Wind Farm project an example of sustainable development. The facility has been designed to produce 453,600 MWh per year, which will supply around 49,000 homes, while preventing the emission of 113,400 t/year of CO2, a figure equivalent to the photosynthesis of approximately 5.5 million trees. Furthermore, in order to cause the least possible impact, the design has gone beyond the exquisite compliance with the regulations, selecting the alternatives for the layout of internal roads that involve the least possible earthworks, taking advantage of the existing orography and roads and selecting the best possible locations for each of the elements. This project is expected to have an economic impact of approximately one million euros per year in terms of social measures, taxes and royalties in the municipalities where it is located: Campoo de Yuso, San Miguel de Aguayo, Molledo and Luena. Last August, the company signed an agreement with the Molledo town council which includes a series of initiatives in this regard, aimed at improving the quality of life of the residents and promoting the development of the municipality. Thus, there will be bonuses on energy consumption of up to 60%, economic resources will be allocated for the rehabilitation of the cultural centre of Molledo, with a budget of approximately €45,000, and €60,000 will be allocated annually for the maintenance of municipal infrastructure and social activities, either to support the livestock sector, the elderly, the disabled and children registered in the municipality. The agreement also includes training activities for employment related to the works and maintenance of the wind farm, and others that favour the digitalisation and technological development of the area, the improvement of tourism competitiveness and the commercialisation of local products, as well as the recovery of cultural heritage. On the other hand, a programme to compensate for the impact on the landscape will be implemented, which will include actions to adapt paths and viewpoints, interpretation and enhancement of the landscape, recovery of natural elements and other measures for the landscape and environmental integration of human activity. Cañoneras Wind Farm, the example to follow Iberdrola and the Cantabrian group Ocyener, partners in El Escudo, have been operating the only wind farm in operation in Cantabria, Cañoneras, for years. Since its commissioning, they have paid the Soba Town Council and the neighbourhood councils involved more than €4 million in rent and municipal licences alone. This wind farm is widely accepted by the residents of Soba and has been held up as an example of the integration of wind energy in rural areas at various meetings of the wind energy sector in Spain. READ MORE
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10/10/2023Neoenergia commits to UN Global Compact to provide a more inclusive and diverse work environment Neoenergia, Iberdrola's subholding company in Brazil, has signed two commitments with the UN Global Compact to increase the number of women and black people in leadership positions in all its units in Brazil by more than 30% by 2025. With this signing, the company reinforces the objective of increasing the black executive workforce by at least 35% by 2025. For women, the target is to reach 31% of the workforce in management positions and at least 35% in senior positions by 2025. You can read the full story in the Neoenergia press room. * Neoenergia, S.A. is indirectly owned by Iberdrola, S.A. with a 50 % + 1 share. READ MORE
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09/10/2023Ignacio Galán attends the 40th anniversary of ConfeBask The Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, attended the 40th anniversary of ConfeBask (Basque Business Confederation), held at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and attended by 400 people. The event was presided over by His Majesty King Felipe VI, who recognised the efforts and work of Basque entrepreneurs and highlighted the existence of challenges such as climate change, energy transition , the new geopolitical order and the demographic challenge. READ MORE
