News
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09/10/2020Iberdrola gets down to business in Australia: construction begins on Port Augusta, its first large-scale hybrid power plant Iberdrola gets down to business in Australia with the construction of its first renewable energy project after the friendly acquisition of Infigen Energy, one of the country’s key developers of renewable energy projects. Located in South Australia, Port Augusta is thus far its first solar-wind hybrid plant in the world, with an investment of A$ 500 million. This renewable facility will combine 210 MW wind with 107 MW photovoltaic technologies and once in operation it will generate enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 180,000 Australian homes per year. In total around 200 jobs will be supported during construction until the project is commissioned in 2021. Thus, Iberdrola is also contributing to foster the post-COVID green economic recovery and job creation in Australia. The project, which involves global, Australian and Spanish suppliers, is already contributing to the revitalization of industry. In recent months Iberdrola has signed major contracts for the Port Augusta project with Vestas for the supply and installation of 50 wind turbines with a 4.2 MW capacity and Longi for nearly 250,000 solar PV panels. Elecnor will construct the storage areas and access roads, as well as delivering the export transmission line, the substation and wind farm Balance of Plant. Sterling & Wilson will construct the solar farm. New markets driving the Green Recovery Today’s ground-breaking event at Port Augusta was attended by Iberdrola Country Manager, Fernando Santamaría, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall and Dan van Holst Pellekaan, Minister for Energy and Mining. During his speech, Santamaria highlighted “the company’s commitment to the Australian market while continuing to bet on clean energies as a way out of the current crisis caused by the pandemic." With its entry into Australia, Iberdrola advances in its diversification process and positions itself in markets with great renewable energy potential. Following the acquisition of Infigen Energy, Australia has become one of the major growth platforms for Iberdrola. The group has become one of the leaders in the Australian market, where it now operates more than 800 megawatts (MW) of owned and contracted solar, wind and battery storage capacity, with 453 MW under construction (including Port Augusta) and a project pipeline of over 1,000 MW in different development stages. Renewable energy in Australia continues to increase its market share and is expected to accelerate growth over the next ten years. According to the 2019 Australian Energy Report, 21% of electricity generation came from renewable sources, with solar production growing by 46% and wind by 19%. By 2030, emissions from the electricity sector are expected to fall by 23% and the share of renewable energies in the generation mix to reach 48%*. *Source: https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/taylor/media-releases/record-new-renewable-capacity-2019 READ MORE
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09/10/2020Over 10 years SEO/BirdLife’s Migra programme has gathered information on 1173 birds belonging to 33 different species Migratory birds are the hardest to preserve since their future depends on the way the species is treated in the various countries they travel to throughout their life cycle. As a result, our ability to preserve them depends on knowing where they are in each period of the year. In 2011, SEO/BirdLife launched the Migra programme in collaboration with the Iberdrola Spain Foundation in order to monitor the movements and patterns of migratory birds in Spain and find out all about where each species goes and understand the spatial ecology of every stop in their annual life cycle. Ten very fruitful years have gone by since the programme was launched, having successfully studied over 30 different species. So far, the Migra programme has gathered information on 1173 tagged birds belonging to 33 different species, building up a database of millions of locations thanks to hundreds of collaborators and participating companies from Spain and abroad. Tagging has revealed not only their movements, but also a number of preservation issues that these birds face within Spanish borders. A great many birds have lost their lives to gunshots, electrocution or poisoning, but this information helps us to tackle the issues wherever they are happening. “Having scientific data allows us to more effectively and thoroughly preserve wildlife. Learning more about birdlife means we can assess how healthy our planet is,” explains Asunción Ruiz, Managing Director of SEO/BirdLife. “We have spent 10 years working on the Migra programme with a clear focus on science and technology, and thanks to the data gleaned we now know how climate change and the destruction of habitats are affecting our wildlife. The time has come to take action. The birds are telling us as much and giving us the information we need to address the major crises of the 21st century,” concludes Ms Ruiz. The Iberdrola Spain Foundation is taking part in this programme within its efforts to support biodiversity, one of its main areas of activity. Regarding these efforts, Fernando García, the President of the Iberdrola Spain Foundation, says, “we are very pleased to see that Migra has become a collaborative platform where many institutions share the will to gather thorough information with which to better preserve our biodiversity, as well as making our findings available to everyone, free of charge and transparently.” National and international collaboration and dissemination This has all been possible thanks to the joint efforts of over 400 collaborators and more than 50 institutions in Spain and abroad over the past ten years. With so many organisations and bird experts working in close collaboration, the Migra programme has been a great success. A key part of this project consists in publishing and disseminating the results achieved. So far, five digital monographs have been published with information on migration patterns, movements and spatial ecology revealed by the Migra programme regarding the Audouin’s gull, the booted eagle, the white stork, Scopoli’s shearwater and Bulwer’s petrel, all of which can be found on the SEO/BirdLife website . The programme has also released 14 papers in various international science journals, including the prestigious Evolution (the world’s top journal dedicated to studying organic evolution and the integration of the various scientific fields linked to evolution), focusing on changes in the migratory patterns of the common swift, as well as a number of papers and articles in national and international magazines dedicated to nature and the environment. Technology to boost preservation In order to monitor the movements of different species and understand their spatial ecology, certain birds are being tagged with cutting-edge remote tracking devices (satellite and GPS-GSM transmitters, GPS and GPS-GSM data loggers, geolocation devices, nano-GPS and microdataloggers), which reveal the bird’s position several times a day. This technology also tells us where the birds are throughout the year, how long they spend in their breeding and wintering grounds, when they begin to migrate, what route they follow, which resting spots and habitats they use to regain their strength, how quickly they fly, at what altitude and so on, all of which is then linked to meteorological, geographical and other factors that may affect their movements. Learning more to preserve and protect Migratory birds are oblivious to borders, so their future preservation depends on protecting the areas they travel to around the year. The Migra programme has revealed that booted eagles spend winter in the Sahel and that they go back to their wintering sites every year to the same breeding grounds, which we have found are not circular but eccentric areas depending on the habitat surrounding each nest. The white stork has changed its migratory patterns due to the global changes caused by mankind: Most adults now winter in the Iberian peninsula feeding from landfills and rice fields, both of which are new habitats created by humans over the past two decades, whilst their young continue to migrate to the Sahel. Our common swifts spend the winter in central Africa, from the coasts of Tanzania and Mozambique to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and fly more than 20,000 kilometres a year on their migratory journey. The European roller spends winters in Namibia and Botswana, over 9,000 kilometres away from its nesting grounds, and its migratory path varies from one population to another: Birds from the east fly over the Mediterranean and the Sahara desert on a relatively straight south-bound path, whilst birds from central and western Europe steer away from the desert along the African coast and the Sahel on a longer flight, all to the same wintering grounds. The movements birds make are influenced by a number of factors. A full description of every movement made by each species over their annual cycles is provided in this programme, affording details on the biology of each one, not only in terms of their migratory patterns, but also during the mating and wintering seasons. The result is a highly comprehensive database with information on changes in bird behaviour caused by such widespread processes as climate change and dwindling biodiversity, and also by much more contained, local issues such as high mortality rates due to pesticides, illegal hunting, destruction of habitats or poorly designed infrastructure. READ MORE
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08/10/2020Galán has confirmed his unconditional support for female athletes in the return of the Iberdrola Leagues The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, accompanied by the President of the CSD, Irene Lozano, this morning held a virtual meeting with athletes from 16 federations, to whom he transmitted “Iberdrola’s unconditional support in the short, medium and long-term for their continued success in an unusual season in which it is very difficult to find sponsorship”. “I hope that that you continue to give your all -he encouraged them in the return of the Iberdrola Leagues- because your effort and your work is more important than ever at the moment”. Ignacio Galán assured all of them and the president of the CSD of Iberdrola's ongoing support to continue promoting the visibility of women's sport, which already benefits more than 300,000 female athletes. In this regard, he pointed out that, although the Iberdrola Leagues are becoming increasingly visible and occupying more space, “we have to continue to fight so that our athletes get the recognition they earn daily”. “It is our moral and just obligation to grant you the place you now hold. Because you are ones who win the medals”. During the meeting, Galán and Lozano shared experiences with several athletes, such as Carolina Marín (badminton), who explained how she is facing her first competition after seven months of uncertainty. Sandra Sánchez (karate) shared the enthusiasm she has invested in the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games: "They are a gift, even the qualifying stages are", while the president of Iberdrola pointed out the exceptional nature of her situation, as she is "competing for the first time in the Olympics in the country where this sport was created”. Marta Estellés explained the difficulty of training for "a team sport and a contact sport” such as rugby in lockdown; and Sara Hurtado (ice skating), thanked Iberdrola for "how it turns words into actions" and explained how she felt protected during the lockdown in Moscow and in her recovery from injury: “you are one step ahead of our needs”, she said. The president of the CSD, Irene Lozano, explained that "committing to women's sports is committing to a modern society that leaves no one behind. Iberdrola has done this, as it is a pioneer in promoting women's sport in Spain. The CSD is also going to staunchly commit itself to this real equality. One example is the commitment to professionalise the women's soccer league, but that is just one step of many that this Council will take in favour of a greater presence of women at all levels of sport. Finally, during the virtual meeting, Galán stressed that “we share the same values, such as teamwork, effort, improvement, leadership, responsibility and striving for excellence. In the most difficult of situations, you have kept working and giving 100%”. She also told them “you are a breath of optimism. You are making history. A lot of progress has been made, but there is still a way to go and we have to keep going”, he said. Iberdrola, pioneer in promoting women's sport Promoting women's sport has become a key tool for Iberdrola and the promotion of real equality between men and women has become one of its basic values. In line with its commitment to SDG 5 of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations, in 2016, Iberdrola became the first company to make a firm and global commitment to women's equality and empowerment through sport. Iberdrola currently supports a total of 16 federations: gymnastics, triathlon, rugby, canoeing, badminton, football, handball, volleyball, hockey, table tennis, athletics, karate, boxing, surfing, ice sports and fencing. Iberdrola also lends its name to 22 national top-tier sports leagues, and 33 other competitions. In parallel, the provision of resources, facilities, medical services and referees, as well as support and sponsorship for different initiatives in this field from Iberdrola has not only helped to increase the number of federated sportswomen in these disciplines by 32% (reaching over 316,000), but is also allowing Spanish elite sportswomen who have built their sporting career in other countries to start competing again in Spain, leading to an improvement in the standard and visibility of national competitions. READ MORE
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07/10/2020Galán: “Ambition must be increased and the green and digital revolution must be combined as key pieces in the economic recovery” Accelerating the process of decarbonisation and digitisation, in line with the European Union's roadmap, is the only possible path to recovery for Iberdrola. This was reiterated by its chairman, Ignacio Galán, during his speech at the Digital Summit organised annually by the company, this year virtually, with the aim of analysing the latest trends in digitalisation. During his speech, Galán stated that “we must increase our ambition to combine the green and digital revolution, key pieces in the economic recovery” and “accelerate the decarbonisation of transport, the residential segment and industry to leave a better and more sustainable world for the new generations, in which digitalisation plays an essential role”. The company chairman has highlighted how in extreme climate situations or in crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the advantages of digitalisation are demonstrated: “The investments made in recent years have enabled us to keep our operations and projects running while ensuring the safety of our employees and partners”. By way of example, Galán explained how the process of digitalising the electricity networks in Spain made it possible to restore service to 300,000 customers in one hour, following the rain associated with the isolated high-altitude depression that devastated Murcia and the Community of Valencia a year ago. Iberdrola believes that there will be no digital transformation with cultural change, with new ways of working and new tools. On this subject, Galán also talked about the need to keep up the efforts to be more innovative, more efficient and more customer-focused. The company is making full use of technology in areas of the business where it adds value, either by improving processes and asset productivity, or by making it more efficient. The importance of this approach was underlined by the Minister for Science and Innovation, Pedro Duque, who gave a talk at Iberdrola’s Digital Summit, which was also attended by Carme Artigas, Secretary of State for Digitalisation and AI. Blockchain, robotics, augmented reality, etc., new technologies in Iberdrola Innovation is part of Iberdrola's DNA and this has been evident at this Digital Summit, in which institutions such as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and companies including TikTok, Twitter, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, IBM and EVO have also participated. The company has been digitally managing its electricity generation assets for years and has transformed its networks into intelligent ones with digital tools and artificial intelligence. It also applies the latest technologies in all its activities: * Blockchain for energy trading operations, 'green' energy certificates, document certification and intra-group financing agreements, among other applications; * Robots and drones to provide support in high-risk operations or in locations that are difficult to access for the inspection of wind blades, hydroelectric plants and high voltage power lines or for fraud detection; * Virtual reality and augmented reality in training activities and actions on the ground, on power lines and other infrastructure; * The Internet of Things, applied to initiatives such as Iberdrola's Smart Home, which provides customers with information for greater management and decision-making capacity regarding their energy consumption; * Digital twin, the virtual recreation of products and services, allowing the company to anticipate and solve future incidents before they occur. * Big data and analytics, used to develop, for example, advanced wind prediction systems and detect electricity fraud; * Artificial intelligence and 'machine learning' with which it applies algorithms to different processes, such as the identification of anomalies in photovoltaic plants, the prediction of natural disasters or the personalisation of personalised offers to different client profiles; etc. €20 billion allocated to R&D+i Innovation is Iberdrola's main tool to guarantee its sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness. The company has spent €2 billion on innovation in the last decade, increasing resources allocated to this area by 115% year on year in the last ten years. These activities have made it Spain’s more innovative utility, and it is ranked third in the world for its R&D+i investments, according to the European Commission. Iberdrola is at the forefront of the use of digital technologies and is preparing to face a new era in which disruptive tools will be key to all businesses. As an example of this commitment, the company has just announced the launch of its Global Smartgrid Innovation Hub, a centre located in Bilbao that will act as a platform to drive innovation, combining its technological capacity with that of suppliers, collaborators and startups from all over the world. This hub will be launched in the spring of 2021 and has already identified more than 120 innovation projects for future implementation worth 110 million euros. The international activities will enable the development and deployment of innovative solutions for Iberdrola’s electricity grid activity worldwide. READ MORE
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02/10/2020European CEO Alliance emphasizes cross-industry collaboration to fight climate change Yesterday, Iberdrola CEO and Chairman Ignacio Galán and CEOs from 11 other European companies joined forces for a zero-carbon future and a more resilient Europe. The European Union is committed to net zero emissions by 2050, which is in line with the CEO Alliance companies’ own decarbonization strategies. All members support the Paris 2050 goals, the EU Green Deal and the ambition to raise EU climate targets. They represent different industries, generate a combined €600 billion in annual revenues and employ 1.7 million people. The CEO Alliance channels their decarbonization efforts: it connects sectors and strategies, identifies potential for collaboration, and fosters projects and investments for a sustainable economy and society. At its inaugural meeting in Stuttgart, the cross-industry alliance underscored: “The climate targets of the European Union are feasible. Our industries do not block, but rather foster the shift toward a carbon-neutral economy. We see growth potential for all industries in the long run. If we manage this historic transformation successfully, sustainable development and new future-proof jobs will be the result. Together, we will support all efforts to reach a social consensus for more sustainability.” With yesterday’s start, the CEO Alliance becomes an association of action that unites corporate strategies, industries and societies on the road to a carbon-neutral Europe. All members believe the new climate targets of the European Commission, envisaging emission reductions of 55% by 2030, are manageable. On the industry side, the CEO Alliance members have already pledged to invest more than €100 billion in their respective decarbonization roadmaps over the next years to help reach these targets. Every member has defined its own strategy to address decarbonization, by reducing carbon emissions across the relevant value chains and by offering sustainable products and services to customers. For reaching the respective CO2 targets, each member and each sector is dependent on other members and sectors, which especially calls for cross-sector activities. Collaboration potential of the Alliance was identified in six fields: In energy systems, renewable power generation must be scaled up rapidly and power grids must be modernized. In terms of mobility and transport, the EV charging infrastructure must be expanded and the low-carbon transport or shipping of goods intensified. Zero-impact production – in particular for renewable power generation components – and sustainable battery production are key aspects in manufacturing and industrial processes. In terms of buildings and urban environments, the focus is on zero-emission offices and sustainable green city planning. In regard to new business models, the focus is on carbon tracking with digital technologies in the supply chain. The field of sustainable finance will also offer new opportunities. The members also agree that the transformation towards a net-zero carbon future needs to be based on a broad public consensus. The CEO Alliance is willing to contribute to this consensus, and to establish a social contract, by intensifying the dialogue between stakeholders from the private sector, public sector and civil society. At the same time, the members call on political leaders to create the necessary political support and incentives. At the inaugural meeting, the dialogue started with a discussion with Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission. The CEO Alliance is convinced that ambitious decarbonization and cross-sector collaboration require ambitious and cross-sector policy frameworks, for example carbon pricing with a minimum floor price in the EU Emissions Trading System, a reform of the energy taxation system, and driving demand for sustainable, innovative and digital solutions, among other things by using renewal schemes, public procurement and investments. The CEO Alliance represents members from key industry sectors: ABB, AkzoNobel, Eon, Enel, Iberdrola, A.P. Møller Maersk, Philips, SAP, Scania, Schneider Electric, Siemens and Volkswagen. Following an initial joint letter to the European Commission in June 2020, the first face-to-face meeting underscored the commitment to act fast and to recognize the urgency of the necessary transformation for future competitiveness. Ignacio Galán, Iberdrola Chairman and CEO, said: “To combat the climate crisis and maximise the environmental and economic benefits of a green recovery, a unified approach is required across borders and businesses. The CEO Alliance is a firm commitment from some of the world’s leading companies to work together to actively make the case for ambitious climate action, create jobs, and set the foundations of a stronger, more sustainable economy in Europe. The decarbonisation of our economies and businesses will only happen if we strongly promote electrification through renewables in Europe, and invest massively in grids and storage. Climate change is a global emergency, so we need everyone on board to fight it.” READ MORE
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30/09/2020Iberdrola triples its renewable commitment in Andalusia which will reach 3,000 MW in the coming five years Iberdrola has this morning inaugurated the Andévalo photovoltaic plant (50 MW), a ground-breaking facility that paves the way for a more sustainable energy and production model. Iberdrola Chairman, Ignacio Galán, accompanied by the president of the Andalusian Parliament, Juanma Moreno, explained that “Andévalo is an example of the operations we are undertaking in Andalusia to triple our renewable potential in the region to 3,000 MW over the next 5 years”. This new plan represents an investment of nearly €1.5bn and will allow for the creation, in the construction and assembly works alone, of 5,500 new jobs in the region. Iberdrola is currently the top wind power developer in the region, with an installed renewable capacity of 900 MW. Andalusia thus becomes one of the largest growth centres for Iberdrola in Spain, where the company already leads in the generation of clean and green energy, and where it plans to double its installed capacity over the coming five years, thereby contributing to the energy transition and the creation of jobs in Spain. “This is Iberdrola's commitment: to drive a clean, safe and efficient energy transition and unite forces to accelerate a green recovery that leaves no-one behind”, he explained. A unique opportunity to drive growth Located in the municipality of Puebla de Guzmán, in Huelva, the Andévalo photovoltaic plant consists of 150,000 photovoltaic panels and will avoid the emission of 15,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. The installation forms part of the largest wind power complex in Western Europe — Andévalo (292 MW) — developed and managed by Iberdrola since 2010, and during its construction it has generated activity and employment for local firms, such as the Huelva company Mebi, Áridos Mengíbar of Jaén, and System Melesur and CEMOSA of Málaga. At Andévalo, Galán stressed that “the energy transition is the best way forward towards a more sustainable and healthy society, promoting responsible consumption and the circular economy and generating quality and lasting local employment”. It is, moreover, “a unique opportunity to drive growth and well-being in Andalusia and also in Spain as a whole". “To make the most of it," said the Iberdrola chairman, "we need to attract large volumes of private investment. And that requires a long-term countrywide strategy, such as that defined by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, as well as to create confidence”. Solutions to the crisis - investment, productivity and legal and institutional stability Galán reiterated that "the financial crisis is affecting all the countries in the world and the solutions are the same — more investment, greater productivity and increased stability and legal and institutional security. “But we must hurry”, he insisted. "Because investing in infrastructure like Andévalo means creating the growth and employment that we need, at the same time as building a better and more efficient country for future generations”. “It is up to us to be able to face the challenge of a quick and inclusive green recovery”, he explained. “Now, more than ever, we must accept the fact that building a better future for all is everyone's responsibility. We are going to leave an unprecedented public debt for future generations and we have the moral obligation to also leave them a better Spain”, he stressed. Andalusia is and will continue to be one of the main stages for Iberdrola's commitment to sustainable growth: a region with which it shares “the conviction of finding ourselves facing an unprecedented opportunity”, Galán continued. In the region, Iberdrola supplies power to a population approaching one million people, has some thirty electricity power stations in seven of the eight Andalusian provinces and a total economic impact approaching €600m a year. The inauguration of the photovoltaic plant brought together all those who have collaborated to make it possible: local suppliers, employees, customers and institutions. Galán highlighted the collaboration with the Andalusian Parliament which made it possible to finalise the construction of Andévalo in scarcely eight months, despite the pandemic. We share the colour green and environmental commitment On the occasion of the inauguration of this new facility, which will make it possible to completely decarbonise the energy consumption of Heineken's four production plants in Spain and its offices, Iberdrola chairman underlined that “we share with Heineken not only the colour green, but also the environmental commitment that they show as leaders in the brewing sector". The alliance of both companies began to come together some years ago, and has spread to other countries, including Mexico and Brazil. From now on, millions of Heineken consumers in the country will have access to products made completely with competitive solar energy as a result of the long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) reached by both companies. With Andévalo, Heineken España becomes the first Spanish brewery to make all its beers and ciders with 100 % renewable electricity, getting closer to the objective of being a zero-emissions brewery by 2025. On this note, Guillaume Duverdier, the chairman of Heineken España commented that: “the sun is the new secret ingredient for the beers in the Heineken family. Our beers produced with the power of the sun contribute to regenerating the environment, using a source of richness that promises us millions of years free from emissions. A unique natural resource which in Spain offers us more than 600 times the energy we consume and represents an essential element in the culture, character and colour of the social life of the Spanish people. Because we are all winners in the fight against climate change: nature wins, and the economy wins”. Accelerating investments to reactivate the economy and employment Iberdrola is confident that electrification and the green economy will act as a lever for change in the post-Covid world. This is why the company has speeded up its investments, with the aim of contributing to reactivating economic activity and the creation of jobs. This commitment to a green recovery has led the group to make record investments of €10bn this year — more than double those of the past — in renewable energy, smart grids and large-scale storage systems, having earmarked €100bn for these areas since 2001 throughout the world. So far this year alone, Iberdrola has placed forward orders with suppliers for more than €9bn giving them the necessary forward planning to retain the more than 400,000 jobs that depend on its activities throughout the world, of which 85,000 are in Spain. Iberdrola currently operates 32,700 renewable MW at the global level - over 16,600 MW in Spain - making its generation facilities among the cleanest in the energy sector, and it has a renewable projects portfolio of over 58 GW. READ MORE
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29/09/2020Iberdrola launches the Citizen Innovation Platform to encourage entrepreneurship in Asturias Iberdrola has defined four areas of action related to energy transition as its contribution to the socio-economic development of Asturias: more investment in renewables, support for job creation by offering opportunities and contracts to local industry, the training of young people in the skills required by the employment sectors of the future and the development of new innovation projects, such as the creation of a Citizens’ Innovation Platform. Today, the first phase of the Citizens’ Innovation Platform initiative began with the training of a dozen employees at the Lada headquarters. This will consist of gathering information -by way of community listening dynamics- on the main challenges and opportunities within the region and, in this way, channelling the best entrepreneurial and R&D&I initiatives of local entrepreneurs and suppliers. The initiative has the support and is backed by the experience of a team of academics from the ALC-Laboratory for Social Innovation at the Universidad del País Vasco and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid who are part of EIT Climate-KIC, a knowledge and innovation network that is an offshoot of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and is dedicated to accelerating the transition to a carbon-free economy. The Citizens’ Innovation Platform will incentivise entrepreneurs and start-ups who are considering setting up in the Nalón region and study funding options for R+D+i initiatives from local suppliers. In recent weeks, the team has also identified key actors within the area -public, private, organisations and civil society- and initiated a round of presentations to make the work to be developed by the initiative known. One of the first meetings was held this morning with Langreo Town Council, during which its Mayor, Carmen Arbesú, expressed her gratitude that “this training, which is so important for the future of Langreo and which we are sure will contribute to the energy transition within our region, is being implemented”. Contribution to socio-economic development In addition to these actions, Iberdrola is making progress in the development of new renewable energy projects in Asturias, specifically four wind farms with a total capacity of 130 MW, which will triple its installed renewable capacity in the region. Investment in these projects amounts to more than 100 million euros and will create jobs for some 1,200 people, according to estimates from the PNIEC. The construction of these projects is already helping to reactivate the local industrial fabric and employment in the region, since practically all the field and civil engineering work is being done by Asturias-based companies, such as Hormavasa, Horvalsa, Canteras Rencanos, Deymet, Excade, Posada, Méndez y Mota, Gruas Roxu and Taxus. The project is being developed by ERPASA and some of the wind turbine components will be manufactured in Windar (Avilés). Opportunities for Asturian industry Another line of action is the opening of new markets for local industry. Iberdrola awarded contracts to Asturian companies worth 200 million euros in July, multiplying the average purchases from Asturian suppliers made by the company each year by four. These projects will enable companies from Asturias to take part in growth sectors in Spain and international markets and also create thousands of jobs in the region. Iberdrola's contribution in Asturias also involves setting up training programmes in future energy for dual vocational training students, institutes and universities in the region, with the aim of turning future generations into active players in the energy transition. READ MORE
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28/09/2020The Iberdrola Spain Foundation moves its exhibition 'The Prado Museum in the Streets' to Tomelloso (Ciudad Real), with reproductions of its most iconic works The Iberdrola Spain Foundation has relocated its successful cultural initiative 'The Prado Museum in the Streets' to the city of Tomelloso (Ciudad Real). This project aims to promote knowledge, dissemination and communication of the Prado Museum’s collections and the cultural identity of its historical heritage by launching educational programmes and cultural outreach activities. It also aims to virtually recreate the experience of visiting the Museum by allowing visitors to contemplate the paintings in their life-sized dimensions, giving them an experience similar to that of being in front of the works of art themselves. The exhibition was inaugurated this morning by Inmaculada Jiménez, Mayoress of Tomelloso; Andrés Úbeda, Deputy Director of Conservation and Research at the Museo Nacional del Prado; Fernando García, President of the Iberdrola Spain Foundation; and Ana Muñoz, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha, and will be showing until 29 October to provide the people of Tomelloso with the opportunity to see 50 of the most important works in the Madrid collection through full-size photographic reproductions, although some pictures will have to be clipped to fit the dimensions of the exhibition panels (184 x 122 cm) situated in the Plaza de España square, one of the city's most iconic locations. This large, open-air exhibition, curated by Fernando Pérez Suescun, Head of Educational Content at the Prado Museum, will allow the visiting public to take a tour through the different artistic schools covered by the Prado’s permanent collections and learn about the history of Spain, Europe and Western art in general, as painted by the great masters. The Spanish, Italian, Flemish, French, German and Dutch schools will be represented through artists from the 12th century to the early 20th century. The show also has bilingual information panels on each of the works, as well as bilingual panels with information on the history of the Museum and its collections. The reproductions are shown at a scale of 1:1. Due to the dimensions of the exhibition stands, this means that some of the larger works are represented by just a detail of one of their most impressive and memorable sections. However, the entire painting will be shown in the explanatory panel. After the great success of the exhibition during the museum's bicentenary celebrations, 'The Prado Museum in the Streets' began its journey through Castile-La Mancha on 13 July in Sigüenza and will travel to eight cities in Castile-La Mancha over ten months. In addition to Sigüenza, Puertollano and Tomelloso, the exhibition will journey to Ciudad Real, Toledo, Guadalajara, Cuenca and Talavera de la Reina. The Iberdrola Spain Foundation is a Protector member of the Prado Museum Through its foundation in Spain , one of Iberdrola’s main areas of activity is cultural development, focussing on the care and maintenance of cultural and artistic treasures. Therefore, the Iberdrola Spain Foundation has been working in partnership with the Prado Museum since 2010 to support conservation and restoration programmes undertaken by the art gallery, as well as offering four annual scholarships for young art restorers. Furthermore, the Foundation was keen to join in the Special Programme for the Prado Museum’s bicentenary celebrations, especially with the launch of this travelling exhibition in Spain. Since 2011, the Iberdrola Foundation has allocated a total of €13 million to art and culture, focussing its resources primarily on the Restoration Programme to support the restoration workshops of leading museums for the conservation of their pictorial and artistic heritage. The foundation also supports the Lighting Programme, which includes the design, execution and financing of artistic projects to light up iconic buildings and monuments. READ MORE
