News
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18/04/2022Iberdrola moves forward with its renewable plans in Greece and starts construction of the Askio III wind farm Iberdrola is making progress in the development of its renewable energy projects in Greece with the start of construction of the 50.4 MW Askio III wind farm. This facility will be located next to the Askio mountain, near the city of Kozani, in the region of Western Macedonia.) During construction, the project will generate an average of 75 jobs, with peaks of up to 150 jobs. The wind farm will have 12 wind turbines with a unit capacity of 4.2 MW, with 70-metre-long blades and a rotor diameter (the set of blades and the piece that joins them to the main shaft) of 150 metres. The blade lifter technique was chosen for transporting the blades, which minimises the environmental impact associated with the transport of these components, in line with Iberdrola's commitment to sustainability in all its activities. This method is based on a 10-axle trailer that incorporates an articulated platform which, in addition to rotating, can tilt vertically, making it possible to move it along existing roads and tracks. In this way, it reduces the need to build additional accesses and reduces the environmental and landscape impact. The company expects to complete the work next autumn and thus avoid the frequent snowfalls that usually occur in the area in the winter months. In addition to this challenge, the works are conditioned by the steepness of the terrain and the difficult weather conditions in the high mountains. In addition to Askio III, the Iberdrola group is also building the 33.6 MW Mikronoros wind farm in Greece (in Rhodopi) and plans to start construction this year on the 18 MW Rokani (in Viotia), which will have the largest wind turbines available, and the 37.8 MW Askio II, also in Kozani. The Iberdrola group is committed to technological innovation and efficiency to develop competitive renewable energies, which are essential to advance in the energy transition towards a decarbonised model and combat climate change. READ MORE
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13/04/2022Iberdrola moves forward with its renewable strategy: its 'green' installed capacity grows by 9% worldwide The Iberdrola group takes another step forward in the energy transition. The company has increased its renewable capacity by 9.1% in the last 12 months, currently standing at 38,305 'green' MW. The company has commissioned 3,200 MW of new renewables, in line with its strategy based on a decarbonised and competitive economy, as reported today by the company to the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV). Thanks to investments in clean energy, the group strengthened its global leadership in wind power, with a 4.9% increase in wind power capacity - onshore and offshore - to 20,705 MW: 1,258 MW offshore and 19,447 MW onshore. In the first quarter, new wind projects included the incorporation of the Golden Hills wind farm in Oregon (USA), with more than 200 MW, and 55 MW at Paraíba in Brazil. Also noteworthy is the strong growth in Iberdrola's photovoltaic capacity, which increased by 60% - with 1,219 MW of new installed capacity - and exceeded 3,261 MW in the first quarter of 2022. This strong momentum is due to the incorporation of the 553 MW Francisco Pizarro photovoltaic plant in Cáceres (Extremadura), the 50 MW of photovoltaic capacity at Revilla-Vallejera, in Burgos (Castilla y León) and the 88 MW of the Port Augusta solar plant (Australia). Battery storage systems have an installed capacity of 193 MW, an increase of 135% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In line with the company's commitment to decarbonisation, Iberdrola's renewable capacity has improved in most of the countries where the company operates: Spain (+9.9%), the United Kingdom (+2%), the United States (+4.5%), Brazil (+14.6%), and the rest of the world, whose renewable capacity has grown by 29%. Thanks to investments in onshore wind and new installed capacity, the company has managed to increase its production with this clean energy by 6.6% to 12,121 GWh. However, this increase did not manage to offset the negative hydro quarter in Spain, so production with renewable energy fell by 4.9% to 21,689 GWh. In the first quarter of 2022, renewable energy production grew in all countries except Spain due to the lack of rain: United Kingdom (+20.6%), United States (7.8%), Mexico (+6.1%), Brazil (+49%) and the rest of the world (+14%). CO2 emissions continue to fall In line with its commitment to a long-term environmentally and economically sustainable model, Iberdrola continues with its commitment to reduce its polluting emissions. At the end of the first quarter of 2022, 81% of the group's global installed capacity is emission-free (compared to 79% the previous year) and 83% of its worldwide production in the first quarter of 2022 is emission-free (in Europe this figure already exceeds 89%). Iberdrola thus continues to make progress in its intention to reduce its emissions intensity to be carbon neutral by 2050. These objectives are aligned with the group's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 agenda. The company is focusing its efforts on two of them: point 7 - affordable and clean energy - and point 13 - climate action. READ MORE
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07/04/2022HBKU and Iberdrola Innovation ME Collaborate on Smart Grid Security Aiming to advance high-impact innovation in sustainable energy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will collaborate with Iberdrola Innovation ME on research and development in the area of cybersecurity for the smart grid. Under a new collaborative agreement, HBKU and Iberdrola Innovation ME will work to enhance the technology being used in smart grid field deployments in the region. Leveraging respective expertise in cybersecurity and innovative energy solutions, joint efforts will encompass research studies, intellectual property, and commercial collaboration on smart grid telecommunications and security mechanisms. Smart grids are regarded as a “technological leap” to advance new models of electricity consumption and decarbonization. With the ability to operate with energy from renewable resources and incorporate digital technology, the huge volumes of data generated by smart grids require effective security solutions. HBKU, through its College of Science and Engineering (CSE), and Iberdrola Innovation ME will both avail faculty, staff, and resources for a research project focused on security techniques for power line communications. Dr. Roberto Di Pietro, Professor of Cybersecurity at CSE, will extend his expertise to the joint project team of research scientists and smart grid engineers. Expected outcomes include peer reviewed scientific publications, jointly owned patent applications and, ideally, subsequent commercialization. Dr. Mounir Hamdi, Founding Dean of CSE, Dr. Richard O’Kennedy, Vice-President for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) at Qatar Foundation (QF) and VP for Research at HBKU, with senior officials from the Office of Industry Development and Knowledge Transfer (IDTK), part of QF RDI, attended the official signing ceremony with Santiago Bañales Lopez, Managing Director, Iberdrola Innovation Middle East, Javier Hernandez Fernandez, Technical Director, Iberdrola Innovation Middle East, and other officials. Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Mounir Hamdi, Dean of HBKU‘s CSE, said: “This new agreement is based on our long-standing relationship with Iberdrola, which is focused on knowledge-driven innovation. We foresee this cooperation actively contributing to Qatar’s energy transformation with a very positive impact on smart, sustainable cities initiatives.” Iberdrola Innovation ME was established at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) in 2016, where the Iberdrola Technology Centre undertakes cutting-edge projects in smart grids, renewable integration and energy management. In October 2021, Iberdrola Group created the Global Smart Grid Hub in Bilbao, a global centre for innovation in smart grids, which combines its technological capacity with that of experts around the world. Santiago Bañales Lopez, Managing Director, Iberdrola Innovation Middle East QSTP said: “Our agreement with HBKU reflects our commitment to Qatar’s research, development, and innovation system and boosting knowledge in specific areas of science and energy. Our collaboration will ensure that our joint efforts are at the forefront of solving Qatar’s energy and environmental challenges by advancing solutions for its smart grid capabilities.” For more information on the programs and research at the College of Science and Engineering, please visit cse.hbku.edu.qa READ MORE
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06/04/2022Volkswagen and Iberdrola, together in Bilbao for sustainable mobility The exhibition 'Motion. Autos, Art, Architecture', a complex project curated by Norman Foster that reviews more than a century of automobile creation in a journey through 38 vehicles that are fantastic works due to their creativity and even their rarity. This exhibition involves 15 design schools from four continents and is a synthesis of the mobility of the past and the commitment to the sustainability of transport in the present and the future. The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, and the CEO of the Volkswagen Group, Herbert Diess, took part in the event, a demonstration of the commitment of both entities and their alliance for sustainable mobility. An area in which, as the exhibition shows, the unstoppable trend towards electrification can be observed, which the automotive industry shares with so many other productive sectors, together with the use of new digital technologies, innovation in design and maximising care for the environment through renewable energies and the circular economy. The Chairman of Iberdrola referred at this event to the new report on the climate crisis by the United Nations panel of experts (IPCC), recalling that 'we only have one planet and that we have the technology and intelligence to protect it'. Ignacio Galán also recalled that he has lived through many energy crises and maintained that 'Europe now has the great opportunity of an energy strategy to be self-sufficient'. For his part, the president of Volkswagen emphasised that 'thanks to the alternative of sustainable electrification , many fields are opening up for new businesses and jobs'. The speakers emphasised how the first motor vehicles were a solution for cleaning up cities. Now, with the electric vehicle solution , a response is also provided to health problems caused by pollution in cities. The world of mobility is much more than transport: it is art, emotion, speed and design. Each vehicle in the exhibition also reflects the personality and culture of the countries in which it was manufactured. ‘Motion. Autos, Art, Architecture' presents many of their creations to a wide public for the first time, as they have never left the private collections or public institutions to which they belong. READ MORE
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05/04/2022King Felipe VI visits Iberdrola's stand at WindEurope Bilbao 22 with Ignacio Galán The annual European wind industry event, WindEurope , which brings together some 8,000 professionals and more than 400 technology companies, opened today at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC). Europe, a world leader in the sector, is promoting the rapid decarbonisation of economic activity, driven by the need to accelerate energy independence. Europe's future has never been more dependent on clean energy than it is today. Spain is considered the most important country in Europe for onshore wind energy and has a relevant roadmap for floating offshore wind. The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, received King Felipe VI at the company's stand to inaugurate the event. Galán showed him some of the innovative projects the company is working on. At Iberdrola we were pioneers two decades ago in onshore wind power, a technology with which we will have 18.9 GW in operation by the end of 2021. Now, offshore wind has consolidated itself as one of our major growth vectors. The visit was also attended by the lehendakari of the Basque Government, Iñigo Urkullu, and the third vice-president of the Government and minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, among other authorities. The entire value chain converges in Bilbao with a single message: speed up permitting in order to meet ambitious renewable energy targets. With more than 23% of production, wind energy has become the main electricity generation technology in Spain. It is also the technology with the highest installed capacity in the Spanish energy system (28,073 MW). The wind sector is also a fundamental pillar of the energy transition and is key to meeting the objectives of the PNIEC, which foresees reaching 42% of energy consumption from renewables by 2030. In Spain, with more than 1,260 wind farms and some 250 industrial centres, the sector employs more than 27,600 professionals, contributing 3.1064 billion euros to the country's GDP. At this year's edition, WindEurope presented the new technological proposals that will make it possible to harness offshore wind resources, far from the coast, by means of floating infrastructures with great stability . READ MORE
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04/04/2022EIB and ICO sign first joint financing for green hydrogen development with Iberdrola Supporting the decarbonisation of the economy through the production of green hydrogen for industrial use and thus contributing to the security of energy supply in the European Union (EU) is the objective of the agreement announced today by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Official Credit Institute (ICO) and Iberdrola. To this end, the EU bank will provide the Spanish energy company with EUR 53 million and the ICO will provide EUR 35 million, both loans certified as green finance, for the development of a 100 MW photovoltaic plant, a 20 MWh battery and a 20 MW green hydrogen production plant in Puertollano (Ciudad Real) , Castilla-La Mancha, one of the largest plants in Europe. This is the first joint green financing by the two organisations for the development of green hydrogen. The green hydrogen can be consumed by the fertiliser industry located near the plant, replacing the grey hydrogen produced from natural gas. The project will generate renewable electricity and green hydrogen. These technologies will contribute to the sustainable recovery of the economy and job creation in Castilla-La Mancha, n. It is estimated that around 300 jobs will be created during the implementation phase and that the new photovoltaic plant will contribute to generating around 160 GWh of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 48,000 Spanish households. The electrolyser will be able to produce 1,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix said: "As the EU's climate bank, the EIB continues to support the building of sustainable infrastructure in Europe to foster the transition to zero net emissions. At this time, especially given the high energy and gas prices in Europe, we at the EIB strongly believe that hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in boosting Europe's energy supply security". For his part, the president of ICO, José Carlos García de Quevedo, stressed that this new operation "is part of the actions carried out by ICO in the deployment of its Sustainability Policy, promoting public-private partnership projects that generate positive impact from both a social and environmental point of view. The green hydrogen plant built in Puertollano undoubtedly meets these two objectives, as it will contribute to generating employment in the region and boosting the ecological transition, one of the strategic objectives of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan". Iberdrola's Chairman, Ignacio Galán, explained during the signing ceremony that "with this new agreement, we continue to make progress in green hydrogen, which is essential in sectors that are difficult to electrify. Thanks to the fact that this energy vector creates industry and jobs in our country, it has been identified as one of the recipients of the Next Generation EU, which is essential to accelerate its technological development and turn it into a mass energy solution". The financing signed with the EIB and ICO is also in line with "Iberdrola's commitment to a sustainable energy model that will enable it to continue leading the transition to a low-carbon economy", said Galán. READ MORE
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04/04/2022Sánchez Galán calls for "more Europe" to overcome the energy crisis The chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Sánchez Galán, believes that the response to the crisis must be "more Europe" or it will not be. "Regulatory stability and orthodoxy, legal certainty, more dialogue and more market rules are essential". He believes that the solutions have to be common and not for each country to take measures in isolation. The Iberdrola Chairman took part in the 'Wake up! Spain' forum organised by the digital newspaper El Español. During his speech, he made it clear that Spain is not an exception in this crisis, but that it affects "all of Europe equally". He believes that not enough has been done in the EU to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which account for 60% of total energy consumption. In fact, he blamed the high prices of coal, gas and oil for the energy crisis. Sánchez Galán is clear that the solution to this situation is to accelerate the commitment to clean energies, to self-sufficiency in order to reduce dependence on foreign energy. The chairman of Iberdrola is clear that the solutions to the crisis must be shared by everyone, and that they must last over time. The chairman of Iberdrola believes that Europe "is taking very seriously the implementation of policies that reduce foreign dependence". In his opinion, it is necessary to invest more in renewable energies, electricity grids and storage. The deployment of renewables needs to be faster. "Prices in the daily electricity market are similar throughout the EU, and even lower in Spain". He pointed out that 80% of energy is not affected by fluctuations in the electricity market, as it is locked in through fixed-rate contracts. He understands that the differential element in the EU is the retail market: " Voluntary Price for the Small Consumer (PVPC), subject to bad design, is what causes hourly price volatility". He pointed to the US as Iberdrola's "main investment destination", as it has "predictability, stability and legal certainty". He also pointed out that the country's tax treatment is much more favourable to energy companies. He recalled that, according to a study by BNP, Spain is the country "with the highest regulatory risk in Europe and that does not help". He insisted that Europe must be provided with more robust legal security in order to reduce the effects of future crises. Finally, he praised the excellence of Spanish companies, which are taking the country's name all over the world, as well as its suppliers. READ MORE
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01/04/2022Iberdrola gets the green light on the UK's undersea energy 'mega highway' The UK electricity market regulator Ofgem has granted the consortium formed by Iberdrola, through its subsidiary ScottishPower Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), provisional approval to build the 2-gigawatt (GW) power line linking Scotland to the north-east of England. It is one of two submarine cables that make up the Eastern Link project, which includes another cable of the same nature and capacity being developed by the consortium between the electricity utility SSE and National Grid. According to Ofgem, this new transmission infrastructure is needed to improve the capacity of the interconnection network between Scotland and England and enable renewable energy produced in Scotland to reach the country's most energy-intensive regions. At an estimated cost of £3.4 billion for the two links, Eastern Link would be the largest electricity transmission investment project in Britain's recent history. Together, the two cables will form an undersea superhighway capable of carrying enough electricity to meet the demand of around four million UK homes. The Iberdrola and National Grid project will run between Torness (Scotland) and Hawthorn Pit (England), while the SSE and NGET project will link Peterhead (Scotland) and Selby (England). Ofgem has stated that progress on interconnections, essential to the UK's energy transition, represents a clear benefit for consumers. Ofgem's decision will also accelerate investment in renewable energy sources , essential for decarbonisation and the country's energy independence. On the other hand, Scotland's offshore wind capacity is expected to increase significantly over the next decade. This will ensure that the large volume of energy expected to be generated can be delivered to where it is needed. Scotland's east coast is already home to operational offshore wind farms with a capacity of 1 GW and has a further 4.4 GW in the pipeline. In addition, a further 10 GW is planned following the outcome of Scotland's next offshore wind bidding round, ScotWind. This multi-billion-pound investment is expected to secure hundreds of green jobs in both the construction and operation of the project. READ MORE
