News

Iberdrola has launched the first edition of the "Convive Awards" together with the Centre for Innovation in Technology for Human Development of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (itdUPM), within the framework of the Chair for Sustainable Development Goals. These awards aim to recognise and give visibility to initiatives, alliances, companies, actions or local entities that exemplify the integration of renewable energies with socio-economic development and the conservation of biodiversity in Spain.

The call for applications will be open on Iberdrola's website until Wednesday 12 April 2023, with the deadline having been extended by several weeks to find the best projects in Spain. The candidatures will be assessed on the basis of five criteria: socio-economic/environmental impact; alignment with the values of the CONVIVE programme in renewables, nature and people; collaboration and alliances between agents and replicability of the initiative/project.

The independent jury will be made up of six members representing different fields: María García, president of the Association of Environmental Information Journalists; José Carlos Díez, director of the Chair for Responsible Renewables at the University of Alcalá de Henares; Joaquín Alcalde, director of El Hueco and Presura; Candela de la Sota, director of the Spanish Network for Sustainable Development; Víctor Viñuales, director of the ECODES Foundation and Elena Pita, director of the Biodiversity Foundation.

The different initiatives may compete in one or more categories, namely: local authorities; citizen participation; research, knowledge and innovation; social and business entrepreneurship; communication and awareness-raising.

To participate in the call for entries, candidates must download and complete a simple form on the Iberdrola website to describe the initiative and the category for which they are applying. Once the document with the candidacy has been completed, it will be sent to the e-mail address premiosconvive@iberdrola.com.

The winners will receive the Convive Awards prize at a public event, and will then become part of the repository of winners, with special recognition and support for the dissemination of their project.

Living in harmony with the environment

Despite efforts to protect the Earth, the climate crisis continues and biodiversity is deteriorating across the globe. In order to achieve a more sustainable economy and meet climate goals, it is necessary to make progress in decarbonisation. As a world leader in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has created the CONVIVE programme, a line of continuous improvement that integrates all initiatives and alliances that build bridges towards an energy transition in harmony with nature and people. 

This continuous improvement programme integrates, with these objectives, specific actions for each project and its location, as well as global initiatives. Actions such as, for example, research and monitoring of the evolution of biodiversity in new photovoltaic plants, the development of new business models in agrovoltaics, the development and testing of new technologies for the early detection and management of risk situations, the promotion of the local industrial fabric by facilitating the development of capacities in the value chain, training programmes, or initiatives for compatibility with local economic activity and for direct contribution to the community by hiring local suppliers and experts.

Renewable energies, especially wind and solar photovoltaic, are mature, competitive and available on a large scale in almost all countries. They are a key lever in decarbonisation and a clear focus for action, especially for the remaining years of this decade. Renewables are also a source of industrial competitiveness, employment, economic growth and energy security