Iberdrola joins forces with the World Bank Group to boost energy transition in emerging countries
Iberdrola and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, are joining forces to promote energy transition in emerging countries. The two institutions today launched a partnership to support clean energy and decarbonisation in a number of developing countries.
The agreement is structured around three pillars. First, IFC will provide Iberdrola with a green and sustainability-linked loan of $150 million - approximately 138 million euros - to finance digitalisation and energy efficiency improvements in the electricity distribution networks operated by Iberdrola's subsidiary in Brazil, Neoenergia. This is IFC's second loan to Neoenergia, following the $115 million sustainable loan in 2022.
Second, Iberdrola and IFC are exploring another green loan, linked to sustainability indicators, for the development of renewable energy projects in emerging countries such as Poland, Morocco and Vietnam.
Thirdly, both institutions are analysing collaboration options to support the development of new innovative clean energy projects in emerging countries, such as offshore wind generation and green hydrogen.
José Sainz Armada, Iberdrola's Director of Finance, Control and Corporate Development, said: "With this agreement we are making progress in the energy transition, decarbonisation and electrification in developing countries, where Iberdrola is already working. It also consolidates IFC as one of Iberdrola's allies in providing financing for its projects in all areas of activity, from photovoltaic and wind farms to green hydrogen and smart grids".
Alfonso García Mora, IFC Vice President for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, said: "We are proud of our partnership with Iberdrola in emerging markets. The loans we have signed with Neoenergia represent a first step towards a broader collaboration that will drive the energy transition in Brazil, Poland, Morocco and Southeast Asia. Iberdrola, as an industry pioneer, is a strategic partner for the IFC.
In these countries, Iberdrola is already making progress on several renewable projects. In Poland, the company is developing a 7,300 MW offshore wind portfolio together with SeaWind. A couple of years ago in Vietnam, Iberdrola acquired Sowitec Vietnam, a company with a 550 MW renewable portfolio under development, spread over six projects: five wind farms and a 50 MW floating photovoltaic project.
IFC, commitment to emerging markets
IFC, with AAA credit rating, is the World Bank Group's private sector lending arm in emerging countries. IFC works to enable countries to improve their own private sectors by investing in companies through loans, equity and guarantees, mobilising capital from other investors, and advising companies and governments to stimulate private investment. It is currently present in more than 94 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Since its founding, the institution has invested more than $285 billion through 2,000 projects.
IFC's relationship with Iberdrola dates back to 1998 with financing to Iberdrola's subsidiaries in Bolivia (Electropaz). Subsequently, in 2000, Iberdrola worked with IFC on projects in Brazil (Termopernambuco), and the relationship has continued to this day through several projects. These include IFC's latest loan of 550 million Brazilian reals ($115 million) to Neoenergia last year, which combines green finance with a pricing structure linked to sustainability objectives.
Iberdrola, a benchmark in green finance
Iberdrola is a leader in green finance. The company continues to consolidate its leadership, with more than 48,000 million euros in sustainable operations, of which 17,619 million are in green bonds, making Iberdrola the largest private issuer of this type of debt worldwide.
IFC is a global benchmark in green and sustainable finance. IFC issued its first green bond in 2010 and is one of the world's largest issuers of green debt, with 172 green bonds issued in 20 currencies. Since 2020, IFC has invested more than $4.5 billion in green and sustainability-linked lending to infrastructure companies in emerging countries. IFC has chaired the sustainable finance committee of the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA), which is responsible for publishing the official principles for such instruments. IFC also participates in the sustainable finance committee of the Loan Market Association (LMA) and the Asia-Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA).
