We will build Europe's largest self-consumption photovoltaic plant in Cartagena for SABIC

• The energy company has obtained the authorisations to start construction for the SABIC plant in La Aljorra, which will prevent the emission of 700,000 tons of CO₂.
• The 100-megawatt (MW) facility will require an investment of more than €60 million and will generate 450 new jobs during the construction period.
• Iberdrola España will supply renewable electricity to the complex for the next 25 years through a power purchase agreement (PPA).
• Both companies are committed to decarbonisation and are exploring further opportunities in facilities located in other countries.

Iberdrola España, as part of its commitment to the decarbonisation of the economy, has achieved the latest milestone that will enable its partner SABIC to achieve its sustainability and decarbonisationExternal link, opens in new window.  targets at the Cartagena industrial complex (Region of Murcia).

The company has obtained the corresponding authorisations to begin construction of the largest solar photovoltaic project for on-site self-consumption in Europe for SABIC, as a result of the agreement reached between the two companies following the signing of a long-term renewable energy purchase agreement (PPA, Power Purchase Agreement), whereby Iberdrola will supply electricity from renewable sources for the next 25 years to the industrial complex located in La Aljorra, Cartagena, avoiding the emission of 700,000 tonnes of CO₂.

The photovoltaic plant, which will be located on SABIC's land and is scheduled to come into operation in 2024, will require an investment of more than €60 million. The facility will have a capacity of 100 MW and will consist of more than 260,000 solar modules, which will increase Iberdrola's current renewable capacity in the Region of Murcia.

For Raquel Blanco, Iberdrola's Director of Global Customers and PPAs, "this is a very important milestone for the development of a unique self-consumption facility from which to supply renewable energy in the long term. Thanks to this agreement, Iberdrola supports SABIC's commitment to sustainability and contributes to transforming the industry towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy model". 

Blanco stressed that PPAs "have proven to be a great tool for customers to secure long-term sustainable renewable energy on the one hand, and to gain greater certainty in the performance of our energy assets on the other hand, contributing to the growth of renewable energy. And this is just the beginning as we continue to work together with SABIC to implement additional solutions to achieve complete decarbonisation at any facility globally".

Bob Maughon, EVP Sustainability, Technology & Innovation, CTO & CSO at SABIC, said the company "is delighted to see the final permits granted to build the Cartagena solar plant, which will allow SABIC to move one step closer to having the world's first plant of this size operating 100% on renewable energy. This is an important milestone in SABIC's journey to transition all global operations to clean energy by 2050, while continuing on our roadmap to carbon neutrality."

The construction of this photovoltaic plant, which foresees the involvement of up to 450 professionals in the project, will have an important regional component as it will employ civil works companies, labour, carriers, suppliers of raw materials, cranes, auxiliary resources, etc., as well as the promotion of industrial suppliers from the Region of Murcia.

The agreement reached between the two companies also reinforces Iberdrola's commitment to the signing of bilateral contracts that promote energy supply at competitive and stable prices with major customers committed to sustainable consumption.

Iberdrola and SABIC are also working together to define the best strategy to fully decarbonise Cartagena plants from 2028 and are analysing possible collaborations in other geographies.

Iberdrola Group, lEADER IN SUSTAINABILITY 

Iberdrola Group, of which Iberdrola España is part, has been leading the energy transition for two decades, acting as a key driving force in the transformation of the industrial fabric, the economy and employment. To this end, the company has launched a historic investment plan of €47 billion between 2023 and 2025, with which it intends to increase its renewable capacity, its smart grids and take advantage of the opportunities of the energy revolution facing the world's major economies.

In Spain, investments to 2025 amount to €6 billion, mainly earmarked for the deployment of renewables and smart grids. Iberdrola España is currently reaffirming its commitment to the energy transition in Spain as a leader in renewable energies, with almost 20,000 MW of renewable energy in the country.

Following investments of €140 billion over the last twenty years, the group is a leader in renewable energy with almost 40,000 MW installed worldwide, a volume that makes its generation park one of the cleanest in the energy sector.

SABIC and the Cartagena industrial complex.

SABIC is a world leader in diversified chemicals. It currently has a presence in more than 50 countries and employs more than 31,000 people. It manufactures chemicals, specialty plastics and polymers, fertilisers and metals globally with production sites in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

In La Aljorra, Cartagena, its presence dates back to the early 1990s. The industrial complex is dedicated to developing and supplying quality, environmentally friendly engineering thermoplastic material solutions, with the utmost respect for the law and its scrupulous compliance.