Spanish Red Cross teams up with Iberdrola Spain
Iberdrola España and the Spanish Red Cross have signed a collaboration agreement and will work together to reduce the carbon footprint of the humanitarian institution's centres in Spain.
To this end, Iberdrola España will analyse and study the different alternatives that the Red Cross can implement and will advise it to undertake the best efficiency projects based on its consumption and facilities, always taking into account the benefit of the communities in which it is present.
The solutions to be developed will focus on electric mobility and self-consumption through individual installations or solar communities, and may be extended in the future to other initiatives or products that promote energy savings and decarbonisation, such as heating, cooling or energy rehabilitation options.
The agreement has the potential to carry out 40 individual self-consumption photovoltaic installations on the roofs of Red Cross buildings and 50 solar communities which, by allowing neighbours living less than 2 km away to benefit from renewable self-consumption, could help more than 3,000 families to reduce their electricity bills.
The first action to be carried out within this framework will be a solar community in Vitoria Gazteiz, with which more than 170 families in the Ariznavarra neighbourhood will be able to save on their electricity bills by consuming renewable energy produced locally by this installation, without the need to have their own installation or make investments.
The installation will consist of 210 panels with a total power of 115 kilowatts (kWp), enough to produce 31 MWh annually, and will prevent the emission of around 27 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over the next 30 years.
In addition to this agreement, the Red Cross is an electricity customer of Iberdrola Spain in its more than 1,600 supply points with 100% renewable Guarantee of Origin. In addition, the entities have an agreement to protect customers identified by the Red Cross as being extremely economically vulnerable, avoiding the suspension of electricity supply due to non-payment.
‘The Red Cross is committed to minimising our environmental impact by benefiting the communities where we are present. Creating alliances and long-term relationships, such as the one with Iberdrola Spain, help and encourage us to achieve this goal. Plans such as the installation of renewable self-consumption and, to a greater extent, solar communities, which benefit neighbouring families, are a clear example of this’, said María del Mar Pageo, President of the Spanish Red Cross.
‘Through this agreement, Iberdrola Spain and the Red Cross are making progress in building a more sustainable society through green energy. At Iberdrola Spain, we believe that agreements like this demonstrate the need for collaboration between all agents of change to create a fairer and cleaner world,’ said Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of Iberdrola Spain.
Spanish Red Cross commitment to sustainability
The sustainability and decarbonisation strategy of the Spanish Red Cross is oriented towards its stakeholders and aligned with its vision, mission and principle. Its actions have a positive impact on each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its plan is structured into five areas of action and consists of more than 120 actions: Good governance and transparency, institutional and financial sustainability, human team, environment and value chain.
In addition, to promote decarbonisation in its facilities, the company has implemented various energy saving and efficiency measures in its buildings, such as promoting videoconferencing and reducing travel, installing renewable energy sources, preferring transport options with lower emissions and contracting 100% renewable energy with the goal that 90% of the energy consumed will come from renewable sources by 2025.
Iberdrola España's drive for decarbonisation
Given the need to electrify the economy as the most efficient and lowest cost option for decarbonisation, Iberdrola España has a wide range of products and services that promote efficiency, energy savings and care for the environment, while placing the customer at the centre by providing them with greater connectivity and decision-making capacity.
These solutions are divided into Smart Mobility, as an integral solution for electric vehicles; Smart Solar, for photovoltaic self-consumption; Smart Services, with peace of mind and energy advisory services aimed at improving efficiency and energy savings; and Smart Clima, for heating and cooling solutions and energy refurbishment.