The Paris Agreement of 2015 was a historic milestone in the global fight against climate change with the commitment of the signatory parties to contain the increase in the Earth's temperature. Long before this Agreement, the EU had already shown its desire to make economic growth compatible with the reduction of greenhouse gases in the medium and long term. To achieve these objectives, a change in the energy model is essential.
The European Union presented the European Green Deal at the end of 2019, which proposes a new strategy to achieve a prosperous and fair society, based on a resource-efficient economy and which sets the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This represents an increase in the level of ambition regarding the initial targets set by the EU, which must be reflected in an upgrading of the current 40% emission reduction target set for 2030. For its part, the Spanish government is working on a ‘Climate Change and Energy Transition Law’ and has presented the draft of the ‘Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan’ (NECP), which sets out ambitious targets for achieving a practically decarbonised economy by 2050.
Red Eléctrica has stated since 2011 its voluntary commitment in the fight against climate change by approving a specific strategy called Climate Change Commitment and a Climate Change Action Plan, whose latest version was validated in 2017, and includes the targets to be achieved in the 2020 and 2030 horizons as well as the main measures to be undertaken.
Red Eléctrica is committed to a 40% reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions per MWh transported by 2030 compared to 2015.
In relative terms, this target, approved by the SBTi initiative, translates into a commitment to absolute emissions reductions regarding Scope 1 and 2 emissions of 30% for the 2030 with respect to 2015, with an additional 10% reduction having been previously approved for 2020 with respect to that same year.
Further information can be consulted in our Carbon footprint section on our web.
Cornerstones of the Climate Change Commitment
Integration of renewable energy
We build the transmission infrastructure necessary to facilitate the evacuation of renewable energy and we implement new technical solutions for system operation, through our Control Centre of Renewable Energy (CECRE), in order to maximise the safe integration of renewable energy into the electricity system.
Protection of wooded areas, prevention of forest fires and the promotion of reforestation projects
Aware of the importance of wooded areas as CO2 sinks, we undertake this objective applying three complementary approaches: minimise the loss of trees associated with the implementation of electricity grids, optimise the maintenance of electricity line safety corridors in order to prevent forest fires and thirdly, carry out reforestation projects to help offset part of the emissions generated by the Company, hence minimising the loss associated with the execution of its activities.
Participation in and the promotion of projects for the adaptation of the electricity system to situations that could arise from climate change (physical impacts in facilities and changes in energy generation and consumption patterns).
Extension of the commitment undertaken by the Company to stakeholders
Disclosure of our carbon footprint, collaboration in initiatives to combat climate change, carry out awareness actions and transfer & extend our commitments to the Company's value chain.
Main courses of action of the Climate Change Action Plan
Contribution to a sustainable energy model:
Develop new electricity infrastructure to facilitate the electrification of the economy, connect new renewable generation and provide the power to feed the railway network.
Achieve the maximum integration of renewable energy.
Contribute to increasing the efficiency of the electricity system through demand-side management measures.
Promote measures and carry out studies aimed at reducing transmission grid losses and increasing grid efficiency.
Reduction of the carbon footprint:
Improvement of the calculation of the carbon footprint.
Reduction of SF6gas emissions.
Decrease in emissions derived from electricity consumption.
Improvement of efficiency in mobility, the implication of the supply chain and the offsetting of emissions, mainly due to the ‘Red Eléctrica Forest’ initiative..
Positioning and disclosure:
Involve stakeholders in the commitment to fight against climate change through the dissemination of knowledge of the electricity system, the promotion of demand-side management measures and the promotion of energy efficiency.
Adaptation to climate change:
Identify and assess both the risks and opportunities derived from climate change and implement actions arising from said analysis and putting in place measures aimed at mitigating the impacts of the risks.