Iberdrola, a global renewable energy giant, and Vodafone, the largest telecommunications company in Europe and Africa, have inked power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the supply of clean energy in Spain and Portugal. This collaboration follows a recent agreement in Germany and signifies their commitment to expanding sustainable initiatives. The companies will also come together to seek new PPA opportunities and promote sustainability across Europe.
As per the terms of the PPA, Iberdrola will supply Vodafone with a total of 410 GWh of clean and renewable PV solar energy annually across the three countries. This collaboration aims to expedite Vodafone’s progress toward achieving net-zero emissions while enhancing its energy resilience. The renewable energy generated by the three solar plants is sufficient to meet the electricity needs of approximately 117,000 households.
Vodafone Portugal will benefit from the newly constructed Velilla solar PV plant in Palencia, Spain, through a PPA.
In Spain, Vodafone has secured another PPA agreement for Vodafone Spain, which will supply 280 GWh of energy annually from the recently developed Cedillo PV plant located in Cáceres.
Vodafone Germany has executed a PPA for the entire energy output of Iberdrola’s Boldekow PV plant, the company’s first solar project in Germany. With a total capacity of 56 MWp, the plant is scheduled for completion in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania by 2024.
Moreover, Iberdrola has installed over 140 electric vehicle charging points across Vodafone’s key facilities in Spain, offering optimization and management services to support both companies’ commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and participating in the energy transition.
By securing an off-taker for the clean electricity generated, Iberdrola can expedite the construction and commissioning of its projects. This partnership aligns with Iberdrola’s strategy to engage in bilateral agreements that facilitate the supply of competitively priced and stable power to major customers dedicated to clean and sustainable consumption.
Moreover, the two companies will explore the potential for additional PPAs to support Vodafone’s ambitious climate targets in Europe. They will also discuss various sustainability initiatives aimed at decarbonizing Vodafone’s operations and achieving its environmental objectives in the future.
Aitor Moso, Global Clients Director of Iberdrola, said, “Iberdrola and Vodafone are both committed to connecting customers and communities to a cleaner and smarter future. As a global developer of clean energy, we have the projects around the world that allow us to support multinational companies like Vodafone who are committed to sustainability right across their business operations. Agreements with progressive businesses like Vodafone are increasingly important in allowing new renewables projects to be built, and we now look forward to accelerating the delivery of these solar PV plants.”
Joakim Reiter, Vodafone Group Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer, added, “These agreements across Europe underline Vodafone’s commitment to ensure our customers will continue to benefit from electricity purchased 100% from renewable sources. They also provide Vodafone with improved energy security and long-term price certainty as we work towards achieving net-zero in our operations by 2030. To meet the agreed net zero targets in line with the Paris Agreement, the world faces the daunting task of ensuring the almost 90% of our future electricity needs globally are generated from non-carbon and renewable sources. Today’s announcement is a great example of how telecoms operators like Vodafone can help accelerate this essential transition of countries’ energy mix by becoming anchor tenants for new renewable power deployments.”
