(Alliance News) - Iberdrola SA on Tuesday said it signed new clean energy power purchase agreements with Vodafone Group PLC for Spain and Portugal, adding to a recent agreement in Germany.
Bilbao, Spain-based utility Iberdrola said it will provide Newbury, Berkshire-based telecommunications provider Vodafone with 410 gigawatt hours of clean, renewable photovoltaic solar energy per year in each of the three European countries. Iberdrola provided no financial details of the agreements.
The agreement includes 100% of the energy from the Boldekow PV Plant, Iberdrola's first solar project in Germany, with an expected capacity of 56 megawatt peak, said the Spanish utility.
Iberdrola said the agreement would help to "accelerate Vodafone's net-zero journey" whilst increasing its energy security. Both firms also pledged to work together to look for new PPA opportunities and sustainability initiatives in Europe.
The renewable energy from the three solar plants is comparable to the annual electricity demands of approximately 117,000 homes, Iberdrola noted.
For Vodafone Portugal, the PPA will provide the energy from the newly built Velilla solar PV plant located in Palencia, Spain, while a further PPA agreement for Vodafone Spain will deliver 280 GWh per year from the newly constructed Cedillo PV plant located in Caceres, Spain.
For Vodafone Germany, Iberdrola said that a PPA was agreed last week to supply the full energy produced from the Boldekow PV plant, which will will have a total capacity of 56 MWp and will be built in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The Boldekow PV plant will be fully operational by 2024, Iberdrola said.
The Spanish utility also said it installed more than 140 electric vehicle charging points in the main facilities operated by Vodafone in Spain, alongside providing a service to "manage and optimise their operation". This was in line with the "aims of both companies to further reduce their carbon footprint and engage in the energy transition".
"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," said Iberdrola Global Clients Director Aitor Moso.
"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."
Vodafone Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer Joakim Reiter 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."
Vodafone shares were down 0.8% at 70.07 pence in London early Tuesday. Iberdrola was down slightly at EUR11.13 in Madrid.
By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter
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