Iberdrola, Spain’s prominent power company, has made a groundbreaking announcement of a $45 billion investment in US power grids. This substantial investment is set to enhance and expand the energy infrastructure in the United States over the next three years. The primary objective behind Iberdrola’s investment is to modernize and extend the US power grids, marking a significant shift towards global energy investments.
This decision reflects the company’s ambitious expansion plans and strong commitment to renewable energy projects on a transatlantic scale. Iberdrola’s investment strategy for US power grids builds upon its earlier announcements in 2022, where it outlined a more focused approach towards the renewable energy sector. The company is planning to allocate 15.5 billion euros to projects that are either currently under construction or on the brink of commencing construction. This move is expected to expand its portfolio by around 9,000 MW, a significant step towards achieving its target of 52 GW of renewable infrastructural capacity by the end of 2025.
With a market capitalization of approximately $77 billion, Iberdrola stands as the largest European electricity company. The company intends to allocate 34% of its global net investments to the US and 24% to the UK by 2026. The majority of these funds will be channeled into offshore wind projects in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
A notable accomplishment for Iberdrola is the launch of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, in collaboration with Avangrid, Inc. and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. This project marks the installation of the first GE Haliade-X Wind Turbine Generator for the Vineyard Wind 1 project, which will be the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States with a capacity of 13 MW. Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra hailed this achievement as a significant milestone for the offshore wind industry in the US, showcasing Avangrid’s commitment to clean energy and climate goals in the Northeast region.
Iberdrola’s investment plan in US power grids extends beyond the Vineyard Wind project, with a focus on enhancing grid infrastructure and promoting renewable energies. Ignacio Sanchez Galan, CEO of Iberdrola, highlighted the company’s substantial investments in grid infrastructure, amounting to EUR 42,000 million spent on 1,300,000 km of lines and numerous substations in countries like the US, UK, Brazil, and Spain. These investments underscore Iberdrola’s global presence and commitment to sustainability.
In its annual report, Iberdrola showcased significant achievements in 2023, with investments propelling company assets beyond EUR 150,000 million and a net profit of EUR 4,803 million, representing an 11% increase from the previous year. The company’s focus on green and sustainable financing, securing over EUR 13,300 million, reinforces its leadership in the energy sector.
One intriguing aspect of Iberdrola’s investment strategy is the implementation of smart microgrids in remote areas that are not connected to the main grid. These solar-powered microgrids utilize panels to generate electricity from sunlight, storing excess energy in batteries for use during low-light periods. The integration of battery storage ensures a continuous power supply during outages or maintenance, creating self-sufficient “electricity islands” for small communities without access to traditional grids.
Iberdrola’s significant investment in grid expansion and renewable energy sources aligns with its vision of bolstering the electrification drive and supporting decarbonization efforts. The company anticipates exponential growth in the electrical sector and recognizes the importance of upgrading grid infrastructure to ensure a reliable, stable, and secure energy supply. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, which are environmentally damaging, Iberdrola’s investment in grids contributes to global climate goals.
As per the International Energy Agency (IEA), meeting the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C necessitates adding or replacing approximately 80 million km of power lines by 2040. Against this backdrop, Iberdrola’s $45 billion investment plan in US power grids is poised to be a transformative force in the renewable energy sector.
