News
-
20/10/2021Ignacio Galán meets the UK's prime minister, Boris Johnson, at the Global Investment Summit Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Galán met bilaterally with the UK prime minister in the context of the Global Investment Summit taking place in London. The conference was also attended by figures including Bill Gates and the senior executives of BlackRock, Larry Fink, and JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon. Galán shared their investment plans in the country with Boris Johnson, which includes 6 billion pounds assigned to the East Anglia Hub marine wind farm. This new investment package is in addition to a record investment of 10 billion pounds foreseen by the group in its 2020-2025 plan, which will double its renewable generation capacity and drive decarbonisation in the UK. Boris Johnson thanked Iberdrola for its commitment to the United Kingdom and its contribution to decarbonisation and improving the quality of service in the country. READ MORE
-
20/10/2021The British monarch greets Ignacio Galán in Windsor together with other economic leaders during the Global Investment Summit The chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, was received at Windsor Castle by Queen Elizabeth at a reception together with the main economic leaders who took part in the Global Investment Summit held in London two weeks prior to COP26 . During the international forum Galán announced the investment of around 7.2 billion euros in the East Anglia Hub offshore wind farm, which forms part of the record breaking investment of 12 billion euros that Iberdrola plans to make in the United Kingdom to 2025. READ MORE
-
19/10/2021Iberdrola undertakes to invest £6bn in the East Anglia Hub offshore wind complex Iberdrola is continuing to forge its global leadership in the offshore wind sector, this time in the UK. Through its subsidiary, Scottish Power, the group has undertaken to invest £6bn in developing an offshore wind complex — East Anglia Hub —, the company's biggest investment anywhere in the world and one of the largest offshore wind projects worldwide. Iberdrola's chairman, Ignacio Galán, announced this undertaking at the Global Investment Summit organised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson just two weeks before the start of COP26 in Glasgow, the headquarters for ScottishPower, which is the main partner of this summit. The chairman of the energy company confirmed that, subject to obtaining the necessary permits, this new investment package will join a record £10bn investment earmarked by the group in its 2020-2025 plan, enabling it to double its renewable generation capacity and drive decarbonisation in the United Kingdom. "This meeting has given us the impetus we need to speed up the Net Zero commitments ahead of COP26", explained Galán. "It also supports the British government's plan to ramp up investment in 'green' industries, create jobs and growth and a cleaner, more environmentally friendly future". He added that "we are fully committed to fulfilling our role in this process, and our £6bn investment in East Anglia Hub will be a significant step toward ensuring that offshore wind is able to produce enough clean energy to power all the households in the UK by 2030". "The East Anglia Hub complex is an example of how companies can support the government's Net Zero ambitions within a predictable, stable framework. This is what international investors need while we prepare for the COP26 climate change summit". "I have no doubt that this is just a taste of what is yet to come, as we continue to tackle the climate emergency, making progress with the energy transition and fighting for a net-zero emissions future". The Global Investment Summit will be an opportunity to show how the United Kingdom can shape the future of green investment and support high-quality jobs and economic growth while reducing carbon emissions through investment projects like the East Anglia Hub. Iberdrola's largest offshore wind development and one of the biggest in the world East Anglia Hub, Iberdrola's largest offshore wind development and one of the biggest projects of this type in the world, consists of three wind farms off the Suffolk coast: East Anglia ONE North, East Anglia TWO and East Anglia THREE. The complex, with an installed capacity of more than 3,000 MW, will produce enough clean energy to supply the equivalent of more than 2.7 million households, contributing more than 7.5% to the target of 40,000 MW of installed power in the UK by 2030. The development, construction and operation work will create up to 7,000 jobs and will give a significant boost to the renewable supply chain in the United Kingdom. Currently, the East Anglia THREE project, with an installed power of 1,400 MW, has already secured planning permission. Likewise, planning permission applications for East Anglia ONE North (800 MW) and East Anglia TWO (900 MW) are being analysed by the Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Subject to the outcome of these considerations, it is expected that construction work on the East Anglia Hub will start in 2023 and will be complete by 2026. Green investments to promote economic recovery and employment Offshore wind energy has also become a driver of future development for the group: it already operates more than 1,300 MW of installed capacity (Wikinger, East Anglia ONE and West of Duddon Sands) and has 2,600 MW under construction, which will triple its current capacity. Its portfolio of offshore wind projects exceeds 38,000 MW in traditional markets such as the UK, USA, Germany, France and new platforms in countries including Taiwan, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Poland. The company has launched a record investment plan of €15bn during the next decade — €75bn by 2025 — which will enable the company to triple its renewable capacity and double its smart grid assets, maximising the opportunities presented by the energy revolution. With an investment of €12bn over the last 20 years, Iberdrola pioneers renewable energies with more than 37,300 MW of installed capacity, a volume that makes its generation fleet one of the cleanest in the energy sector. Its green energy and smart grid investment strategy will enable Iberdrola to be "carbon neutral" in Europe in 2030. READ MORE
-
19/10/2021"We need to speed up the approval process: the gas price crisis would have been less serious had investment in renewables been accelerated" Iberdrola's chairman, Ignacio Galán, granted an interview to CNBC's Squawk Box Europe to talk about his participation in the Global Investment Summit held in Glasgow two weeks ahead of COP26. During the interview, Galán emphasised the following ideas: * The crisis demonstrates that "we must become less dependent on external sources, using our natural resources to increase renewables and speed up the construction of new integrated interconnections and distribution grids “. He also remarked that the crisis "would have been less serious had the approval process for renewables been more streamlined". * The energy transition requires massive investment which, in turn, necessitates long-term planning. "Without stability and predictability we will never achieve the emission reduction targets set by governments", warns Ignacio Galán. * Regarding the upcoming Glasgow Climate Summit — of which Iberdrola and ScottishPower, the company's UK subsidiary, are the main partners — the chairman of Iberdrola talked about the recent progress made, such as the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement, China's decision not to fund foreign coal plants and "Fit for 55" in the European Union. * Galán said that "there is now tremendous pressure from civil society" to address climate change , which he calls "a risk to humanity. And this is in the minds of the young and the not-so-young, like me". READ MORE
-
15/10/2021Iberdrola increases its 'green' capacity by 10% to 37,300 MW in the first nine months Iberdrola is making progress with its renewable strategy as the basis for the development of a decarbonised and competitive economy. The company increased its 'green' installed capacity by 10.4% to 37,378 MW in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year. Investments in clean energy also boosted the company's renewable production, which grew by 10.4% to 55,139 GWh. By region, half of Iberdrola's installed capacity is in international markets and is growing in all the areas where the company is present: Brazil (+8.6%), with more than 3,850 MW; the UK (+6.6%), the rest of the countries of the world (+19.4%) and the US (+4%), which exceeds 8,000 MW. Spain reached an installed capacity of 19,000 MW (+16%), after having commissioned nearly 2,400 MW in the last year. The company adds to its global wind leadership, with a 5.6% increase in onshore wind capacity to over 19,000 MW. Its offshore wind capacity totals 1,258 MW installed. During the period, Iberdrola's photovoltaic capacity doubled (+210%), exceeding 2,800 MW at the end of September. Driven by the Tâmega complex project, hydroelectric generation increased to 13,744 MW in the period. Its battery storage systems have an installed capacity of 137 MW. In line with the greater renewable contribution, 80% of Iberdrola's installed capacity worldwide and 76% of global production is already emission-free; percentages of 79% and 87% in Spain, respectively. READ MORE
-
14/10/2021Iberdrola will supply green energy to the BHP Olympic Dam mine project in South Australia Iberdrola has been selected by Anglo-Australian multinational BHP to supply 100% renewable energy to its Olympic Dam mine project, one of the world's largest underground deposits of copper, gold and uranium, in southern Australia. The green energy supply will start operating in 2022 and will enable BHP to reduce the emissions from electrical consumption at Olympic by 50% by 2025, contributing to its overall goal to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2030. The long-term purchase and sale agreement includes a specific PPA for the energy produced by Port Augusta , Iberdrola's first hybrid wind-solar farm in the world and the largest in Australia, with 320 MW of installed power. Iberdrola is building the farm, which will supply around half the electricity required for Olympic Dam, in South Australia. The contract also includes an innovative mechanism whereby BHP will purchase Large-Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) for 100% of the energy purchased until 2025. Iberdrola Australia’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ross Rolfe, said that, "we are delighted with this alliance, which will help BHP to achieve its decarbonisation and sustainability targets. Together, we have designed this tailor-made renewable energy supply agreement, which will make Olympic Dam the main customer for the renewable energy produced by Port Augusta; evidence of both companies' commitment to sustainable economic development in the region". Jennifer Purdie, asset president at BHP, said that, "this agreement cements our commitment to renewable development in South Australia. Copper production at Olympic Dam will support global decarbonisation and the energy transition as an essential product for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries and renewable infrastructure. Reducing emissions from our operations will further improve our position as a sustainable copper producer". South Australian Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan said that "the Government of Marshall is delighted with this agreement, which represents a step forward in South Australia's journey towards cleaner, cheaper electricity for industry, businesses and homes. It proves that BHP, Iberdrola and other businesses that are obtaining a suitable mix of generation sources, including wind and solar farms to obtain cleaner, reliable electricity, are on the right track". The world's first hybrid wind-solar farm Iberdrola has fully installed the wind farm on its first hybrid wind-solar farm in the world: Port August is in South Australia and consists of 50 wind turbines and 250,000 solar panels. The renewable power plant - which cost 500 million Australian dollars - combines 210 MW of wind power with 107 MW of photovoltaic generation and once in operation within the next few months it will supply enough clean energy to supply the equivalent of 180,000 Australian homes per year. The project, which created 200 jobs, has involved global, Australian and Spanish suppliers like Elecnor, Vestas, Longi and Sterling&Wilson, and is contributing to the establishment of a renewable READ MORE
-
13/10/2021Iberdrola is painting wind turbine blades black and applying vinyl shapes resembling eyes to protect birdlife Iberdrola is continuing to roll out solutions to promote the coexistence of its renewable facilities, one of the foundations of the energy transition, and the ecosystems in which they are located. The company has launched two initiatives on several wind farms to improve the visibility of their wind turbines and to deter certain species of birds from the areas of influence around the projects. The solutions are based on studies conducted by Norwegian research centres and experiences at French airports. One such initiative involves painting one of the three blades black on several wind turbines on wind farms in Cavar (111 MW) in Navarre; and Zorreras (20 MW) in Zahara de los Atunes (Cádiz) in Andalusia. The project, which will be rolled out in some of the company's other wind farms, is based on a study published by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, which estimates a 70% reduction in the number of birds spotted after applying this measure. The solution creates more contrast between the blades and makes them easier for birds to see. This work to adapt the wind turbines takes place 100 metres above the ground on fully assembled wind turbines and requires sanding, cleaning and painting the blades. The tasks are undertaken when there is little wind and no rain to ensure the safety of the specialised wind turbine maintenance and operation workers. Each blade on the Cavar wind turbines is 65 metres long and up to 14 metres wide, so it can take a week to paint them. Vinyl shapes have been applied to more than 60 towers on seven wind farms to discourage birds of prey The second of these initiatives consists of marking wind turbine towers with two vinyl transfers that look like staring eyes. These one-metre-diameter concentric circles are fixed at between 3.5 and four metres from the base of the wind turbines. It has been shown that sticking these black shapes to the white base of the wind turbine tower is a deterrent to birds of prey. The solution has been implemented in seven wind farms in Burgos and has involved applying these vinyl shapes to more than 60 wind turbines on the Ballestas-Casetona, Cotera, Páramo Vega, Urbel del Castillo, Valdeporres, Viñas and Fuente Blanca wind farms. The project does not affect the structure of the wind turbine and has no impact on the operational systems or electricity produced by these production plants. There are plans to install these vinyl shapes at another six wind farms in Burgos province, while the possibility of further extending the scheme is being analysed. This method has been tried and tested at Lourdes-Tarbes-Pyrénnés airport in south-eastern France and has proven efficient for keeping birds away. A 65% reduction in the number of birds of prey spotted in the airport area was observed when the vinyl shapes were used. Competitive energy and environmental balance Iberdrola has fully integrated the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems into its strategy, demonstrating that competitive, clean and sustainable energy supply can effectively coexist in balance with the environment. The company plans to achieve “no net loss” of biodiversity by 2030, by committing to the net positive impact of new infrastructure developments. In this regard, it has carried out more than 1,450 measures to protect biodiversity in the last three years alone, combining renewable project development with the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems and caring for flora, fauna and natural heritage. Among other initiatives to achieve its sustainability goals is reforestation, with the launch of the Trees Programme , whereby Iberdrola will plant 20 million trees by the end of the decade, with which it will capture approximately six million tonnes of CO2. READ MORE
-
08/10/2021Iberdrola bids to construct and operate a 1,500 km power line in Chile with investment over $2.5 billion A consortium led by Iberdrola has been selected to participate in the tender for the construction and operation of the first long-distance HVDC power line in Chile. The 1,500 km 600 kV power line will have a capacity of 3,000 MW and run between the Kimal substation, in the Antofagasta region, and Lo Aguirre, in the Metropolitan region. If successful, the project will require over 2.5 billion dollars of investment. Iberdrola will have a 60% stake in the consortium, which also includes Celeo, owned by the Spanish company Elecnor, and the Dutch pension fund APG. Elecnor has more than a decade of experience delivering networks projects in Chile, having built more than 1,000 km of lines and electricity networks infrastructure. The project also includes the construction of two converter stations, using Siemens technology, which will support the connection of renewable energy in the regions with high levels of demand. The project will also include upgrading work at existing substations. The process has officially started today (date), with the submission of bids. The announcement of the winning consortium will be made on December 13, 2021, and the commissioning of the line is estimated in 2028. Chile has the potential to be a new growth market for Iberdrola, following the company’s entry in to new European and Asia Pacific markets in the last 18 months, and new investments announced to strengthen its position in core markets. Networks: key to the energy transition and half of Iberdrola’s planned investments Iberdrola has been leading the energy transition for two decades, acting as a driving force in the transformation of industry and the green recovery of the economy and employment. The company is delivering a 150-billion-euro investment plan up to 2030 – 75 billion euros by 2025 – which will see Iberdrola triple its renewable capacity and double network assets, taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the energy revolution taking place in the main economies of the world. Almost half of this investment will be linked to the development of smarter electricity networks, with the aim of continuing its international expansion, and reinforcing its presence in core markets. Iberdrola operates more than 1.2 million kilometers of electricity transmission and distribution lines across the world, and more than 4,400 substations, which provide electricity to more than 34 million people, in countries such as Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil. By 2025, regulated assets will amount to 47 billion euros, located mainly in countries with an A credit rating. By 2030, the company plans to double the regulated value of its network assets, to 60 billion euros. READ MORE