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04/10/2019Núñez de Balboa breaks records as its workforce tops 1,200, 70% of them local The Núñez de Balboa project, which Iberdrola is building in Extremadura, is breaking records: it is the largest photovoltaic plant in Europe under construction (500 MW) and has reached a new milestone as its workforce tops 1,200. 70% of these are local workers, of whom up to 150 are from the municipalities where the project is located, Usagre and Hinojosa del Valle. Olga Garcia, Extremadura's Minister for Ecological Transition and Sustainability, visited the plant this morning accompanied by Julio Castro, Iberdrola's Director of Renewables in Spain, to see how the works are progressing. The piling for the entire structure is now practically complete and more than 50% of the 1,430,000 photovoltaic panels are in place. The construction of the plant's substation and switching substation is almost complete and the electromechanical assembly is expected to be completed by December. The project’s logistical complexity —transporting the main components to the site, which involves some 3,200 containers— requires a major effort to coordinate the manufacturing, transport and on-site assembly phases. What's more, the modular installation design simplifies the installation work and leads to greater safety. The plant, which occupies a surface area of almost 1,000 hectares, will generate enough clean energy to meet the needs of 250,000 people, more than the combined populations of the region's largest cities, Cáceres and Badajoz. It will also prevent the emission of 215,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, strengthening Iberdrola's commitment to protecting the environment and mitigating global warming. This facility, in which Iberdrola will have invested 300 million euros in by the time it is brought into operation in the first quarter of 2020, is part of Iberdrola's plan to relaunch clean energies in Spain. The initiative has been promoted with the collaboration of Ecoenergías del Guadiana, in the form of a joint co-development fully respectful of the environment and land-use planning. More than 1,700 renewable MW under construction or in the pipeline In addition to Núñez de Balboa, which is in the construction phase, Iberdrola has made progress on six other photovoltaic projects in Extremadura: Francisco Pizarro (590 MW), located in Torrecillas de la Tiesa; Ceclavín (328 MW), in Alcántara; Arenales (150 MW), in Cáceres; and Campo Arañuelo I, II and III (50 MW each), in Almaraz. This brings the number of photovoltaic megawatts under construction or in the pipeline in the region to 1,700, making Extremadura the focus of Iberdrola's renewable strategy in Spain. Training and education in renewables Iberdrola's actions in Extremadura also include training and education in renewables. In May, Iberdrola, Usagre Council and the Mancomunidad of Llerena signed a collaboration agreement aimed at training students of the Campiña Sur Vocational School in Extremadura with actions related to the Núñez de Balboa photovoltaic plant. The agreement includes educational visits to the site and an internship at the Núñez de Balboa plant. Plan to relaunch clean energy in Spain Iberdrola's plan to invest in renewable energies in Spain includes the installation of 3,000 new MW by 2022. By 2030, the company forecasts point to the installation of 10,000 new MW. These actions will enable jobs to be created for 20,000 people. In Spain, Iberdrola is the leader in renewable energies, with an installed capacity of 15,828 MW in the country (30,300 MW worldwide), making its generation fleet one of the cleanest in the energy sector. Iberdrola's commitment to a decarbonised economic model has led it to earmark 34 billion euros for global investments between now and 2022 in renewable energies, smart and robust distribution networks, and storage technologies, all on top of the 100 billion it has already invested since 2001. READ MORE
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03/10/2019Iberdrola and Mercedes-Benz reach a strategic agreement to boost sustainability mobility in Spain Iberdrola and Mercedes Benz are strengthening their commitment to the electrification of transport following the signing of a strategic agreement that will allow both companies to continue to drive forward the roll out of electrical mobility in Spain, break entry barriers and promote “zero emissions” transport, by facilitating the move to electric vehicles. The alliance is based on three pillars for the next 3 years, both in the home and companies charging segment and in the roll out of the public recharging network in the country. It means that Mercedes-Benz will include Iberdrola’s mobility solutions - home and public charging - in the marketing process for electric vehicles in Spain. In the home, Iberdrola will supply and install recharging points for all customers of the new Mercedes-Benz EQ range and vans in a fixed-rate package, regardless of the specification of the home. Also, Iberdrola will facilitate access to the public recharging network provided by the company under very special conditions, those established in its Energy Package, as well as including free charging for 6 months. “The strategic agreement reached emphasises the importance of working together with all the players involved in sustainable mobility . With Mercedes Benz we have found a perfect ally with which to move forward in the start-up of recharging solutions to meet the challenges of electric mobility , based on clean energy free of CO2 emissions,” explains Ángeles Santamaría, CEO of Iberdrola España. She also declares that “electrification of transport, added to the unstoppable growth of electricity from sustainable sources, will make a decisive contribution in the fight against climate change, and will reduce pollution and increase energy efficiency.” Roland Schell, president of Mercedes-Benz España, states that “Daimler is reaffirming its commitment to electric mobility with the creation of the EQ brand - and with the launch of its EQC model is beginning its journey into the future. Our objective is to support the transition from the internal combustion engine to the electric vehicle by facilitating the installation of recharging points during the sales process. The signing of this agreement will allow Iberdrola and Mercedes-Benz España to combine their common interests to build solid foundations for a successful and strategically strong cooperation with a view to a sustainable future.” Green energy and digital solutions The collaboration agreement allows both companies to combine forces with an offer that simplifies and facilitates the customers’ decision to join the electric movement, allowing them to enjoy all the benefits of an electric vehicle from the moment of purchase. Customers of Mercedes Benz’s new EQ range, moreover, will also be charging the batteries of their electric cars, both at home and companies and at the network of recharging points on the public highway installed by Iberdrola, with 100% green energy from clean generation sources, with a certified guarantee of renewable origin (GO). Also, they will be able to recharge easily with their mobiles using Iberdrola’s recharging apps for home and public recharging, through which - in the latter case - drivers of electric vehicles can geo-locate, book and pay for their recharging. Iberdrola, leaders in sustainable mobility This strategic agreement is part of Iberdrola’s plans to promote and lead the transition to sustainable mobility and the electrification of transport as an effective way to decarbonize the economy. The company is rolling out a Sustainable Mobility Plan that envisages the deployment of 25,000 electric vehicle charging stations in Spain by 2021, aimed at homes and businesses, as well as publicly accessible urban and suburban areas. The plan includes installing fast, super-fast and ultra-fast charging stations at least every 100 km on the country’s main motorways and highways during 2019, reaching all provincial capitals and making it possible to drive all the way across Spain in an electric vehicle. Iberdrola is working on several initiatives to mobilise all the agents involved in sustainable mobility, from governments to institutions, companies and electric vehicle manufacturers. The company has recently become the first Spanish business to subscribe to the The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative, with the object of accelerating the change towards electric vehicles with a commitment to electrify its entire fleet of vehicles and allow its staff to recharge at its businesses in Spain and the UK by 2030. READ MORE
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02/10/2019Iberdrola, driving the future of Galician industry Today, Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Galán and the president of the Xunta de Galicia Alberto Núnez Feijoo, ratified the company’s historical commitment to the region and the development of the present and future industrial fabric. By way of example, Galán highlighted the recent contract awarded to Navantia Fene for the 62 foundations (jackets) that will equip the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France . The future project will keep Galicia at the cutting edge of the nascent offshore industry. The meeting was held as part of the fifth anniversary contract awarded to Galician shipyards for jackets destined for the German marine wind farm Wikinger , which, commissioned at the end of 2017, was the first of this type developed promoted 100% by Iberdrola This contract was the first to be awarded to Navantia Fene was awarded in this sector and is a clear example of Iberdrola’s influence as a driving force. It has allowed shipyards to take a foothold in an area of business with enormous growth potential, consolidating direct and, in turn, indirect employment, through dozens of local companies. The economic impact of Iberdrola's activity in Galicia amounted, in 2018 alone was around €380 million. READ MORE
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02/10/2019Iberdrola and CESEDEN analysed the role of the Armed Forces and the business community in compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Iberdrola and the Higher Centre for National Defence Studies (Centro Superior de Estudios de la Defensa Nacional (CESEDEN)) the Spanish Armed Forces’ main joint military teaching centre discussed the role of the Armed Forces and business in compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals from the 2030 Agenda. The seminar, which started at 9:00 a.m., featured talks by Brigadier General Francisco José Dacoba Cerviño, director of the Higher Centre for National Defence Studies and co-manager of the seminar; Manuel Aragón Reyes, Constitutional Law professor at the Universidad Autónomo de Madrid and co-manager of the seminar, and Santiago Martínez Garrido, head of legal services at Iberdrola. During the event, a dozen SDG experts discussed the need to drive the 17 objectives defined by the United Nations in 2015 which are crucial to the future of humankind and which include elimination of poverty and combating climate change, education, equality for women, defence of the environment and city design. During the first part of the Seminar, entitled Significance and function of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), María del Mar Hidalgo García, an analyst at the Spanish Institute of Strategic Studies (Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos (IEEE)) talked about The notion of sustainable development. She was followed by Blanca Palacián de Inza, also an IEEE analyst, who stressed the need for global action to combat poverty and inequality. Next, Carlos Sallé Alonso, director of Energy Policy and Climate Change at Iberdrola, focused on The Collaboration between States and Civil Society to achieve the SDG. Lastly, Manuel Aragón Reyes underlined the fact that the SDG are a material guarantee of human rights. The essential role of the armed forces and the business community The second part of the seminar, which was entitled The involvement of the Armed Forces and companies in the SDG, was delivered by IEEE associate analyst Colonel Juan Alberto Mora Tebas, who based his presentation on The SDG as a relevant factor in defence and security in the Sahel. After this, Lieutenant Colonel Jesús Díez Alcalde of the Army and also an IEEE analyst, explained the contribution of the Armed Forces to the Goal 16: peace and justice. He was followed by two Iberdrola representatives: Agustín Delgado Martín, Director of Innovation, Sustainability and Quality, and Mónica Oviedo Céspedes, Head of Sustainability. The former tackled The contribution of companies to the SDG, while the latter talked about the plan to integrate these in the company. It should be mentioned, in this regard, that Iberdrola is deeply committed to compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals . The company focuses its efforts on the supply of affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) and on climate action (Goal 13) while also contributing directly to ensuring clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), increasing its investment in R&D&I activities (Goal 9), promoting respect for the life of terrestrial ecosystems (Goal 15) and working to establish partnerships to achieve the goals (Goal 17). The Armed Forces and Civil Society Seminar: The SDG: involvement of the Armed Forces and companies was closed at around 2 pm by Lieutenant-General Francisco de Paula Bisbal Pons of the Marine Corps and Head of the CESEDEN, and the secretary of Iberdrola’s Board of Directors, Julián Martínez-Simancas. READ MORE
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27/09/2019"For Iberdrola, the energy transition started 20 years ago" Ignacio Galán, chairman of Iberdrola group, has taken part in the Latin America, United States and Spain in the Global Economy forum, organised by El País newspaper and the Spain-USA Chamber of Commerce within the framework of the New York Climate Week . During his speech, Galán emphasised the following ideas: * The Iberdrola chairman assured as that “the transition towards the green economy is a great opportunity” and advocated that Europe must not let it pass by and must lead this process. In his opinion, the European Commission is going in the right direction by setting digitalization and the green deal as great objectives. * “Time is running out”, Galán reiterated, insisting that now is the time to stop focusing on targets and start talking about real and measurable facts. “It's not just about being good in 2050, we need to be good in 2019 too,” he added. * Galán pointed out that at Iberdrola the “energy transition started 20 years ago”, when the company was a pioneer in the renewable energies sector in Spain. “Iberdrola has demonstrated that doing things in a way that respects the environment does not go against the interests of shareholders or employees; it actually benefits society”, the company's chairman said. * Galán explained that renewable energies have reached a sufficient level of maturity to be competitive and added that we now have the financial instruments necessary to drive this shift toward a green economy . READ MORE
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26/09/2019Iberdrola brings together 2,200 volunteers on International Volunteer Day Tomorrow, Saturday 28 September, Iberdrola will bring together 2,200 volunteers, 22% more than last year, for its International Volunteer Day on various initiatives that it will be undertaking in its principal countries of operation: Spain, the UK, the USA, Mexico, Brazil and Portugal. Under the slogan "Together we build the world that we want!", the company is dedicating this charity event to the fight against climate change and is directing its activities at caring for the environment, as well as at the inclusion of vulnerable groups and raising awareness regarding diversity. Iberdrola's volunteers and their families are sharing this day with members of associations for the disabled and people at risk of social exclusion. This year, in line with the global awareness campaign that Iberdrola has launched about the problem of plastics and their impact on the environment, special care will be taken over cleaning up waste in all the outdoor activities, and the use of plastic materials will be avoided completely. In Spain over 800 company volunteers will be taking part in 26 activities with social organisations in 24 cities from 13 Autonomous Regions: the Community of Madrid, the Basque Country, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, the Valencian Region, Galicia, Castile and León, Murcia, Navarre, La Rioja, Cantabria, Andalusia and Extremadura. This year, as a result of the recent spell of heavy rain that has affected various municipalities in eastern Spain, Iberdrola will undertake some of its activities in this area, so volunteers from Alicante will be cleaning up and restoring the Moncayo beach, in Guardamar del Segura. In the other regions, employees will be able to join different projects focussing on the restoration of natural areas, and raising awareness about diversity and our responsibility in the fight against climate change. This means that work will be done on reforestation and cleaning operations in the following parks: Tres Culturas in Toledo, Fuente del Sol in Valladolid, the Gavá Pine Forest in Barcelona, Palmés Santa Comba de Naves in Ourense, and the Talamanca del Jarama Poplar Groves in Madrid, among others. In some cases, this work will be done in natural environments that have suffered from fires as is the case for Pinilla de Fermoselle, in Zamora, and Tafalla, in Navarre. Another priority activity is the cleaning up of rivers and beaches. In this sphere, the volunteers will be working on the banks of the river Arlanzón, in Burgos; the river Júcar, in Murcia; Azkorri beach, in Bilbao; and Somo beach, in Santander. A joint action carried out in 6 countries Iberdrola is undertaking this activity simultaneously in other countries where it has a presence, such as the UK, USA, Mexico, Brazil, and, for the first time this year, Portugal. In the UK, professionals from ScottishPower will be getting involved in cleaning activities to regenerate the natural environments of Cumbernauld and Bowling Harbour, both in Scotland; whilst in the vicinity of Liverpool, they will assist in the construction of two disabled access fishing platforms. Employees of Avangrid, Iberdrola's US subsidiary, will be able to choose between different activities in the states of Oregon, Connecticut, New York and Maine. In Oregon, for example, work will be done to improve social housing in Portland and the operation of the community restaurant. In New York, volunteers will be repairing recreational facilities where youth camps are held, and in Maine green zones will be reforested and improved. The employees of Iberdrola Mexico will undertake activities on environmental education and the recovery of natural areas in the regions of Altamira, Monterrey, Querétaro, Oaxaca and San Luis Potosí, among others. In Brazil, professionals from Neoenergia will take part in the cleaning up of public areas and environmentally important zones in Bahia, like Ilhéus beach. In Guarujá, Sao Paulo, the beach will also be improved, whilst in Garanhuns, part of Pernambuco, reforestation with local species will be carried out. Finally, Iberdrola's employees in Portugal will undertake similar reforestation activities in the regions of Arriba Fóssil da Costa, in Lisbon, and in Lousada, in Oporto. One vision 365 days a year This initiative forms part of Iberdrola´s Corporate Volunteer programme, launched in 2006, as part of its commitment to support the involvement of its teams in the realities of society's less fortunate. The project is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which the company has integrated into its strategy. Specifically, this programme focuses on goals number 7 (affordable and clean energy), 13 (climate action), 3 (good health and well-being), 4 (quality education) and 10 (reduced inequalities). Each year, the company offers its employees more than 8,000 volunteer opportunities, with the aim of rallying the talent, time and energy of its professionals. The programme has received a number of accolades, including the Innovation Award 2018 in the Private Sector category, granted by the IMPACT2030 network (a private sector and UN initiative). In addition, in 2016 the company received a Special Mention from the King of Spain, on the occasion of the celebration of the first decade of its International Programme. And in 2015, it was awarded the prize for the most Caring Company of the year by Cooperación Internacional. READ MORE
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26/09/2019Renewable energy, key to tackling climate change To mark the Climate Action Summit — held on 23 September in New York as part of Climate Week — Iberdrola group chairman, Ignacio Galán, gave an interview to TV channel Bloomberg to talk about the company's commitment to fighting climate change . Here is a summary of the most important ideas: * The young are demanding urgent action on climate change. * World and business leaders must present clear responses to protect the planet and accelerate the transition to clean energy. * The sense of urgency is driving global awareness and encouraging companies like Iberdrola to speed up investment in renewable energy. * Onshore wind and solar are now the most competitive energy sources and are displacing fossil fuels. READ MORE
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24/09/2019Iberdrola grows electrified fleet goals by signing on to EV100 initiative Iberdrola, a world leading renewable energy company, has further enhanced its sustainable ambitions by becoming the first Spanish company to sign up to The Climate Group´s EV100 initiative. EV100 is a global initiative bringing together forward-looking companies committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and making electric transport the new normal by 2030. Under the agreement, sealed within the framework of the Climate Week NYC , Iberdrola will fully electrify its vehicle fleet and provide charging for staff across its operations in Spain and UK- where local EV market conditions make this possible- by 2030. Iberdrola will also aspire towards this objective in Brazil, Mexico and the USA, but this will be reliant on national characteristics and further developments in the wider EV markets in each of these countries. As part of the partnership, Iberdrola will work with The Climate Group to engage key stakeholders in these countries to help overcome barriers. Ignacio Galán, Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola, said: “Iberdrola has been leading the energy transition for twenty years and we support a wide range of initiatives designed to encourage a more sustainable planet. We have been working hard to offer electric mobility solutions for our staff and our customers for a number of years, and the EV100 initiative perfectly fits with our ambitions. The electrification of the transport sector, together with the increase in electricity coming from renewable sources, will help the fight against climate change, reduce pollution and increase energy efficiency.” Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our first Spanish company to EV100. Iberdrola have committed one of the largest fleets in this round of announcements, with 3,500 vehicles set to go electric by 2030 – a great first step for EV100 in Spain, which hopefully sees further ambitious companies following suit. Climate Week NYC is a hugely exciting time for a company to come onboard, surrounded by likeminded, ambitious corporate leaders driving change across the globe.” A fleet of more than 3,500 vehicles across Spain and UK This initiative will see Iberdrola have a fleet of more than 3,500 vehicles completely electrified in these two countries by 2030. Light passenger cars and vans are included, as well as off-road vehicles used for windfarms and power line maintenance tasks like SUVs, pickup trucks and man basket cranes. Iberdrola has already committed to installing up to 16.000 charging points at homes and 9.000 at workplaces in Spain by 2021. Beyond that, the company´s Smart mobility program for customers is increasing in popularity, which includes both the provision of a charging point and a special tariff to charge vehicles with green electricity. In the UK, ScottishPower was the first energy company to offer and end-to-end EV ownership package for customers. Working with major car retailer Arnold Clark, buyers can purchase or lease an EV of their choice, book a home charging point installation and sign up to a smart 100% renewable electricity tariff as part of the same package. In the US, Iberdrola´s subsidiary Avangrid just recently announced the expansion of its partnership with Nissan North America, seeking to provide 3.2 million customers and employees across New York, New England and Oregon with a $5,000 discount on the purchase of a Nissan LEAF EV. In addition, the company is also delivering a $34 million investment in the expansion of EV charging infrastructure across Maine and New York. READ MORE
