News
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25/01/2021Iberdrola ratifies its commitment to France, where it will invest 4 billion euros in the next four years Iberdrola group chairman Ignacio Galán met with French President Emmanuel Macron this morning during the Choose France forum. Macron talked about the country’s recovery plans, which focus mainly on the energy transition and digitalisation , strategic areas it shares with Iberdrola, a fact recognised by Galán. The chairman of the company reiterated the group's commitment to France, where it foresees investing 4 billion euros in the next four years. Among the main projects planned for the country is the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm where it is investing 2.4 billion euros, and achieving additional growth in renewables derived from the acquisition of Aalto Power, which has 700 MW of wind and photovoltaic capacity in development. READ MORE
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25/01/2021Iberdrola is the most sustainable Spanish company according to the new edition of the Global 100 Iberdrola has been selected as the most sustainable Spanish company, according to the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index, prepared annually by the publication Corporate Knights. The company, led by Ignacio Galán, also ranks in the top 20 of all the companies in the world. The results of this seventeenth edition were announced at the annual World Economic Forum meeting, which is being held virtually from today. In this new edition, the report highlights in particular how the pandemic has reaffirmed the conviction that the economy and employment reactivation can only come from sustainable investments, as demonstrated by the growing commitment by governments as well as companies. In this regard, Iberdrola is highlighted as one of the so-called 'green energy majors,' leaders in this process of transforming the economic model. More than 8,000 listed companies with revenue of more than 1 billion dollars were analysed to compile the ranking of the 100 most sustainable companies in the world. Companies that generate energy from coal, hinder climate policies and cause extreme deforestation through their activities were excluded. Thus, companies that worsen their benchmark indicators are excluded on an annual basis, although Iberdrola has been continuously selected in recent years. Once this selection has been made, the report analyses 24 indicators including revenue from 'green' areas, investment in sustainable business, carbon levels, tax payments, gender diversity on the board of directors and racial diversity. Iberdrola is a pioneer in all these areas and has defined specific plans and investments to continue advancing in the coming years. In its 2020-2025 plan, the company foresees investments worth 75 billion euros, earmarked for energy transition through more renewable projects, smart grids and large-scale storage systems. In terms of carbon levels, with CO2/kWh two thirds below the European average, an investment strategy focused on clean energy and networks will make Iberdrola a carbon neutral company in Europe in 2030, enabling it to reduce its CO2 emissions globally by 86%, to 50g/kWh, at the end of the decade (70g/kWh by the end of 2025). The company already generates 100% of its energy with no emissions in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal. In terms of tax payments, Iberdrola's tax contribution worldwide amounted to 8.156 billion euros in 2019. In its Fiscal Transparency Report 2019: Our Commitment to Society , it states that 43% of its profit before tax was used to pay taxes. In terms of its commitment to diversity and equal opportunities, Iberdrola has also been a pioneer in drawing up its first Diversity and Inclusion Report. It details the initiatives developed by the company in these areas, which are considered a strategic priority for its sustainable growth. READ MORE
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21/01/2021Iberdrola and Danone España join forces behind the creation of Europe's biggest photovoltaic plant Iberdrola and Danone have joined forces in their sustainability commitments with the signing of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which will drive the development of Europe's biggest photovoltaic plant. The initiative consolidates Danone's long-term renewable strategy and means that 100% of the renewable electricity used in its plants and factories in Spain will come from this solar project. The agreement reached will guarantee the long-term green supply of electricity to all Danone's Spanish production plants and its natural water sources, located in Asturias, Barcelona, Gerona, Guadalajara, Granada, Madrid and Valencia; as well as its logistics centres and offices. Danone España's suppliers, Graham Packaging and Salvesen Logística, have also joined the alliance. The terms of the agreement reached between the two companies establish that Iberdrola will provide green energy to the 29 supply points in Danone in Spain for a period of 10 years from April 2022. The consumption to be supplied under the PPA formula will be 73 GWh/year. Danone will complete its green energy supply with another annual energy contract with Iberdrola up to 104 GWh/year. The 100% renewable electricity supplied will come from the Francisco Pizarro project - currently the largest photovoltaic plant planned for Europe with a capacity of 590 MW - which Iberdrola is building in the municipalities of Torrecillas de la Tiesa and Aldeacentenera, in Cáceres, Extremadura. Operational in 2022, the project will see 245,000 tonnes of CO 2 emissions per year saved, it will further enhance the competitiveness of solar technology and make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. The €300m project will contribute to the creation of employment - more than 1,200 workers are expected to be involved at key stages of its delivery - helping to boost local industry. “PPAs open the door to many opportunities for the development of renewable projects that are transforming the present and future of energy in our country and contributing towards its economic recovery. Long-term power purchase agreements provide stability to investments and have become the perfect tool for the management of the electricity supply for large consumers who are committed to clean and sustainable consumption. These agreements demonstrate the competitiveness of renewables and their ability to supply energy at affordable and stable prices”, explains Ángeles Santamaría, CEO of Iberdrola España. For Danone, the health of people and of the planet are closely connected, as reflected in their vision: “One Planet.One Health”. “Our aspiration is to progress towards a new way of doing business that takes into account not just results but also the financial and social impact of our activity”, says Paolo Tafuri, general manager of Danone Iberia. “This initiative will help us turn our ambitious environmental commitments into reality - goals that form part of our global strategy and affect our entire value chain”, he concludes. Renewables for a green recovery Iberdrola has extensive experience in managing PPAs throughout the world in markets including Spain, the United Kingdom, the USA, Mexico and Australia. With over 6,500 MW. Of PPAs being manaed from wind and photovoltaic projects, the company works with businesses from a range of different sector, including banking, telecommunications, brewing, distribution, sports brands and pharmaceuticals. More information: Do you know what a PPA is, and what its major benefits are? Iberdrola is convinced that the energy transition can act as a key driver in the transformation of industry and the green recovery of the economy and employment. With this in mind, Iberdrola has launched a major investment programme totalling €75bn between 2020-2025, with the aim of doubling its renewable capacity and supporting the energy revolution that the world's major economies are facing. Investments for Spain for the period amount to nearly €14.3bn, half of which - over €7bn - will be earmarked for new renewable projects, while €4.5bn will go towards fortifying and continuing to digitalise the electricity grids. After 20 years promoting the energy transition in Spain, Iberdrola leads in renewable energy in the country, with an installed renewable capacity exceeding 16,700 MW at September 2020 - an amount that rises to more than 33,000 MW worldwide, making its generation facilities among the cleanest in the energy sector. With CO2/kWh emissions already two-thirds below the European average, the investment strategy in networks and clean energy will make Iberdrola a "carbon neutral" company in Europe by 2030. Accelerating their sustainability goals This alliance will help towards the achievement of Danone's sustainability commitments. Since 2007 the company has been striving to reduce its carbon footprint in its direct area of responsibility, achieving a 50% reduction since 2007 and is working on its emissions reduction strategy based on five targets: reducing total emissions from the company's activities by 50% for 2030, promoting solutions for positive carbon, eliminating deforestation in our supply chain for 2020, developing resilience in our food and water cycle, and offering solutions for a healthier and more sustainable diet. Recently the Aguas Danone division announced that it hopes to achieve the objective of zero emissions as soon as 2025. To achieve this ambitious goal it will carry out measurement, reduction and compensation projects. Both the dairy and plant-based products division and the Aguas de Danone division have B Corp certification in Spain, which recognises those companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and legal responsibility. READ MORE
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15/01/2021Iberdrola applies for regulatory approval for 500 new green MW in Castilla y León Iberdrola continues to lead the implementation of high-capacity renewable projects, by starting the regulatory approval process for 500 new green megawatts (MW) in Castilla y León, at the Villarino photovoltaic power plant, with an installed capacity of 200 MW, and the Villarino wind farm, with 300 MW. Along with the 50-MW photovoltaic plant already in the process of obtaining an Environmental Impact Statement in Villarino de los Aires and another with a 318-MW capacity in Ciudad Rodrigo , this makes Salamanca the province in the region with the most renewable projects in the pipeline being developed by the company. The Villarino photovoltaic power plant will be built in the municipalities of Ahigal de Villarino, Sanchón de la Ribera and Brincones, and the wind farm in Villarino de los Aires, Trabanca, Ahigal de Villarino, Almendra, El Manzano, Iruelos, Puertas and Villar de Samaniego, in the province of Salamanca, and will represent an investment of close to 400 million euros. The construction will involve a large number of local industrial suppliers and up to 1,100 local workers in peak work periods. Once operational, this plant will generate enough clean energy to supply a population equivalent to 290,000 homes and will prevent the emission of 182,000 t CO2/year into the atmosphere. A world leader in clean energy in Castilla y León The new plants will enable Iberdrola to reinforce its renewable leadership in Castilla y León, where it already manages more than 5,100 MW -hydraulic and wind-, making this autonomous community the region with the most 'green' megawatts installed by the company. The company is building three wind farms in Herrera -comprising the most powerful wind turbines installed in Spain - and is also promoting the Buniel wind complex in Burgos, in collaboration with Caja Rural de Soria, and the Valdemoro park, which make their 164 MW of installed power one of the largest by the company and in the country. The company's photovoltaic commitment in the region is completed with the application for regulatorary approval for a further 1,000 MW, distributed between Segovia, Burgos and Palencia, which includes the photovoltaic plants in Velilla (400 MW), Otero (505 MW), Revilla Vallejera and Ballestas. In the coming years, Iberdrola will develop more than 2,400 MW in renewable projects in the community -wind and photovoltaic-, for which it will allocate investments of around 2 billion euros. This volume of resources will invigorate the industrial fabric and generate employment for 24,000 people, according to the estimates established in the NEPC. Green investments to promote economic recovery and employment Iberdrola is convinced that the energy transition can act as a key promoter in the transformation of the industrial fabric and in the green recovery of the economy and employment. To this end, the company has launched a historic investment plan worth 75 billion euros for the period 2020-2025, with the aim of doubling its renewable capacity and taking advantage of the opportunities of the energy revolution facing the main economies worldwide. Investment in Spain for the period amount to around 14.3 billion euros and half - more than 7 billion euros - will go to the development of new renewable projects, while more than 4.5 billion will be aimed at strengthening and continuing to digitise its electricity networks. After twenty years promoting energy transition, Iberdrola is the leader in renewable energy in our country, with an installed capacity of more than 16,700 renewable MW as of September 2020; a volume that rises to more than 33,000 MW globally, making its production network one of the cleanest in the energy sector. With CO2/kWh emissions that are already two-thirds lower than the European average, the investment strategy in clean energy and networks will lead Iberdrola to be a “carbon neutral” company in Europe by 2030. READ MORE
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15/01/2021AVANGRID’S New England Clean Energy Connect Receives Final Major Permit and Announces Start of Construction AVANGRID , Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company, announced today that it has received the Presidential Permit from the US Department of Energy for its New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project, thus successfully completing all major permitting. The project also marked the start of construction with the commencement of clearing activities and installation of temporary access roads to prepare for the installation of the monopoles that will carry the transmission line. In partnership with Hydro-Quebec, the NECEC will bring clean hydropower from Quebec, significantly reducing carbon emissions in New England. “From day one, our focus has been on how we can provide cleaner energy for the region along with lower electric rates, jobs and economic stimulus – all while mitigating the project’s environmental impact,” said AVANGRID President, Robert Kump. “After 33 months, hundreds of hours of public hearings, thousands of pages of evidence, and a comprehensive review by state, federal and regional regulators and agencies, there should be no doubt of the value the Clean Energy Corridor brings to Maine to further clean energy goals, provide cleaner air, and lower energy costs.” “The NECEC is a strong and swift response to the climate urgency which, as the pandemic, is a challenge that has no borders. It will help bring down harmful emissions, while reliably powering homes and businesses with competitive, renewable energy,” said Hydro-Québec president and CEO Sophie Brochu. “The granting of the Presidential Permit brings us closer to our collective goal – building a clean energy future for us all.” “We are pleased to be able to start construction so that Mainers can realize the more than $570 million in benefits and more than 1,600 jobs this project will bring to Maine during this time of economic uncertainty,” continued Kump. “Benefits for the state of Maine will come in the form of infrastructure upgrades, rate relief for customers, including a fund for low-income customers, grants for electric vehicle infrastructure, economic development for tourism, education funding, broadband, heat pumps and land conservation.” Following nearly three years of extremely rigorous and thorough review and approvals for the project which examined environmental, economic and social impacts, the Presidential Permit is the last in a series of permits granted by independent regulatory bodies at the state and federal level. All of the regulatory reviews have concluded that the Clean Energy Corridor is environmentally and economically beneficial and good for Maine and New England. The project previously received permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. About the NECEC project The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All of the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC will be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England. The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power. The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period and provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable. The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of harmful emissions each year. READ MORE
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14/01/2021Total and Iberdrola partner to bid for Danish Offshore Windfarm Thor Total, a global broad energy company and experienced offshore operator in the Danish North Sea, has joined forces with Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest wind power generators, to develop plans for an offshore windfarm in Denmark. The 50/50 partnership has been pre-qualified by the Danish Energy Agency to submit a bid for the Thor offshore wind farm in the Danish North Sea. Thor will be one of the largest offshore windfarms in the world with a capacity between 800 MW-1,000MW. “Total has a strong ambition to reach net zero by 2050 together with society and to play a major role in the energy transition in Europe. Our participation in the Thor tender is in line with this ambition as it underpins our desire to support the energy transition in Denmark, where we build on more than half a century of Danish offshore operational experience being a reliable energy partner to Denmark,” says Martin Rune Pedersen, Country Chair for Total in Denmark. “The continued development of offshore wind is vital to deliver a decarbonized world, and Thor will be a very important project for Denmark’s energy transition. As a global leader in offshore wind, with major projects already operating in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, we look forward to bringing our experience to this exciting new venture,” says Jonathan Cole, Iberdrola’s Global Managing Director for offshore wind. The partnership is working to develop a competitive bid towards the expected award from the Danish Energy Agency by the end of 2021. KEY FACTS: THOR OFFSHORE WIND FARM * The wind farm will be connected to the grid between year 2025 and 2027. * The Danish Energy Agency expects to conclude the tendering process with final bids in Q4 2021. * Additional information can be found via the Danish Energy Agency: [ https://ens.dk/en/our-responsibilities/wind-power/ongoing-offshore-wind-tenders/thor-offshore-wind-farm ] READ MORE
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13/01/2021Iberdrola continues to grow in Greece with the construction of Mikronoros wind farm Iberdrola is accelerating investment in renewables and has started the new year by breaking ground at the Mikronos wind farm, located in the province of Rhodopes in Thrace, northern Greece. With an installed capacity of 33.6 megawatts (MW), the facility will comprise eight V150 wind turbines with 4.2 MW unit capacity, a hub height of 105 m and a rotor diameter of 150 m. With commissioning expected for the middle of this year, Iberdrola's installed renewable capacity in Greece and Cyprus will stand at 335 MW. In 2022, the company expects to commission three further wind projects, which will add a combined capacity of 100.4 MW, bringing the company's operating capacity in the country to 435.4 MW. The additional projects are Askio II (33.6 MW), Askio III (50 MW) and Rokani (16.8 MW) wind farms, awarded to Iberdrola in last year’s capacity auction. These plans ensure that Iberdrola continues its commitment to develop renewable energy in Greece, which is essential to advance the energy transition towards a decarbonised model and to combat climate change. The company´s outlook in Greece also reinforces the main aspects of its global strategy. Iberdrola is committed to technological innovation to develop efficient renewable energy, to reducing emissions to combat climate change, and to generating positive economic, environmental and social impacts in all the regions where it operates. In June 2020, Greece had 7,237 MW of installed renewable capacity, of which 3,832 MW were wind and 2,841 MW solar photovoltaic. Green investments to promote economic recovery Iberdrola firmly believes that the energy transition can act as a key driving force in the transformation of industry and in the green economic recovery and job creation. To this end, the company has launched a historic €75 billion investment plan for the period 2020-2025, with the aim of doubling its renewable capacity and taking advantage of the opportunities of the energy revolution facing the world's major economies. After twenty years promoting the energy transition, with investments of €120 billion, Iberdrola is a leader in renewable energy, with an installed capacity of more than 33 GW, making its generation fleet one of the cleanest in the energy sector. With CO2/kWh emissions already two thirds below the European average, the investment strategy in clean energy and networks will allow Iberdrola to become a carbon neutral company in Europe by 2030. READ MORE
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08/01/2021Iberdrola and Mapfre join forces: the insurance group's sales network will offer energy products Iberdrola and Mapfre have reached an agreement whereby the insurance company's sales network in Spain, which consists of nearly 3,000 offices, will offer customised products that are 100 % renewable from the energy company. This is the first alliance of this type between an insurance company and an energy company in the country. The products initially included in the agreement are electricity and gas plans for private individuals and SMEs (Tailor Made Plans ), and value-added services such as Home Electrical Protection and the Gas Maintenance Pack, although this could be extended in the future to other solutions. The agreement, which was signed by Raúl Costilla, General Sales and Business Director of MAPFRE IBERIA, and Alfonso Calderón, Iberdrola's Retail Director for Spain, also provides for Iberdrola to make support channels and preferential attention available to MAPFRE, both for the insurance company's customers and for its commercial agents, in order to resolve doubts or incidents during the contracting process or afterwards. MAPFRE's network will also be able to prescribe Iberdrola's self-consumption and sustainable mobility solutions, such as Smart Solar and Smart Mobility, respectively. With the signing of this agreement, the collaboration between the two companies extends beyond the ties that linked them until now: Iberdrola as MAPFRE's energy supplier in Spain and customer of its corporate insurance programme. In addition, MULTIMAP, a company of the MAPFRE Group, provides the boiler repair and maintenance services that Iberdrola offers its customers. The agreement, with an initial duration of three years, is in principle subscribed to at national level, but neither company rules out extending it to other markets where both groups operate. For Iberdrola, the agreement reinforces the company's retail strategy through a market-leading partner, and diversifies its marketing channels for high value-added products, such as the Tailor Made Plans, with which customers personalise their services based on their consumption habits and are supplied with 100 % renewable energy, helping to prevent CO2 emissions into the atmosphere; and maintenance services on a preferential basis. As well as prescribing new solutions aligned with responsible consumption, related to self-consumption and sustainable mobility with green energy. “At MAPFRE we have found the optimum partner with whom we can explore new opportunities for the development of the energies that are marking the present and future of energy, such as customised and 100 % renewable solutions for our customers. The capillarity of its network and its position in the insurance sector reinforce our strengths in the energy market for companies and individuals,” explained Alfonso Calderón. With this initiative, MAPFRE is improving its range of services to its customers, who will be able to access Iberdrola's products easily and conveniently through the insurance company's extensive network of branches, the largest in Spain. “The aim of the agreement with Iberdrola, a company with which we share many values and a business philosophy, is to expand the solutions we offer to our customers and to allow our offices to diversify their product portfolio for companies and individuals, generating new development opportunities in this complex environment,” says Raúl Costilla. READ MORE
