At the risk of European funds, the community can become a beacon of the green revolution and a net region in emissions in 2050.
Galicia has a lot to say about the ecological transition. The community’s territory has great potential to become one of the beacons that guide society towards a much more sustainable future. And Endesa is aware of this. For this reason, Galicia has an important role within the strategic plan of the energy company, a plan that is based on three objectives: the decarbonization of its generation part, the electrification of the demand of its customers and the digitization of its distribution network. As explained by Miguel Temboury Molina , CEO of Endesa Noroeste, these three legs represent 85% of the investment plan that the firm has for the next three years and which is valued at 8,600 million euros: 50% of this plan is destined to start-up progress of our renewable plan, quantified in 4,400 megawatts of new capacity, of which 1,400 are wind. And of these, an important part we want them to be here, in Galicia, summarized the manager. It is not the only investment that Endesa have on the table. They are also considering giving a boost to storage technologies, as well as renewable hydrogen. In addition, 30% of its investments will go towards the digitization and modernization of the distribution networks towards smart networks capable of absorbing the amount of renewables that are going to be incorporated into the system.
In addition to these investments, Endesa has a portfolio of projects that it submitted to the calls for Next Generation funds . And Galicia plays an important role in this future. Galicia is very well oriented towards attracting these funds. The presentation of the Galician 2030 energy agenda to turn the community into a region with net emissions in the year 2050 through seven lines of action is very much in line with both the Repower EU plan and Next Generation funds. And we are practically present in the seven axes of the energy agenda, which is why we are fully convinced that we are going to contribute to the development of Galicia”, summarizes Temboury.
This expert explains that Endesa has the capacity to become a driving force and growth company: We have a powerful and very solid industrial plan that allows us to become a key company in the recovery and transformation in Galicia, summarizes . Their story supports them. Endesa has been in Galicia for 50 years: We started in the As Pontes area, then investing in thermal generation. We have 2,300 megawatts of thermal generation, but we have more than 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy in Galicia, between wind and hydraulic. Endesa is today the second wind power plant in Galicia and our plan is to replace it with new wind power as the As Pontes thermal power plant closes, where the resource is abundant here. In fact, we have a portfolio of 1,300 megawatts of projects with access and connection rights, says Temboury.
Unity is strength. For this reason, in addition to being in the area of ​​power generation, Endesa works to seek alliances with entrepreneurial industrial companies in Galicia. And it is that producing energy in the territory provides a competitive advantage to companies established in the community compared to other territories. It currently serves companies such as Coren, Stellantis, Inditex, Abanca or Gadisa.
Fair transformation
We are committed to making a just transformation in the transition process with the closure of the coal plant that was requested three years ago. In this sense, we have presented a plan for the future that seeks to mobilize our own and third-party investments for an amount of 2,700 million euros and generate 1,350 direct jobs, explains Miguel Temboury. And with all these wickerwork, the fundamental base that Endesa will pursue involves replacing the 1,400 megawatts of the As Pontes plant with 1,300 megawatts of renewable capacity: “It also serves as a basis for supporting industrial projects with establishment on Endesa land, sums up the manager, who adds: Society understands this transition, but it is painful both because of the facilities that are closed and because of the start-up of the new ones,
Electric companies and current crisis
After the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, the West lives immersed in an unprecedented energy crisis. Miguel TembouryHe is categorical when dealing with this issue: The electric companies are not responsible for the energy crisis that is taking place. The origin of the problem in Europe is caused by the escalation of gas prices, he summarizes. In this sense, the manager adds: What we are seeing is a series of regulatory interventions by various governments at the European and Spanish level. We ensure that there are no unforeseen benefits and even so a tax is imposed on the electric companies that is being processed in Congress and that unfortunately will have an impact on Endesa of about 300 million euros per year for two years. Temboury assures that this is a clear withdrawal of resources that could be allocated to more investments in renewables.
