The BigMat Group, a chain of shops for the construction professional, joins EDP, a leading energy company in renewable energies, in its commitment to solar self-consumption. In this way, EDP will be able to install photovoltaic systems in BigMat's 900 warehouses and shops in Spain and Portugal, and will also market photovoltaic systems at its points of sale.

The agreement, the largest signed so far by EDP in the Iberian Peninsula, includes an installed capacity of up to 18.50 MWp, sufficient to cover the consumption needs of BigMat, as well as those of its partners and associates. In addition, there is the possibility of using the available surface area to expand up to 37 MWp, with the aim of covering the energy needs of other customers. This involves the installation of just over 72,000 solar modules, which will occupy an area equivalent to 19 football fields.

It is a strategic alliance that goes even further, as the more than 500,000 professionals, BigMat customers, will be able to contract their self-consumption projects with EDP in their establishments, benefiting from preferential conditions and accumulating points on their loyalty cards.

The sum of all the installations will achieve an annual production equivalent to the annual consumption of a city of 235,000 inhabitants and will avoid more than 165,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which translates into a positive impact on air quality similar to that generated by almost 756,000 trees.

EDP will be responsible for the implementation and commissioning of the photovoltaic projects, as well as the owner of the installations for the duration of the contract, which is fifteen years and will be carried out on an "as a service" basis, with the advantages for customers in terms of long-term energy cost visibility. At the end of this period, the solar plant, with a useful life of 25 years, becomes the property of the customer, BigMat, which will not have to make any investment.

In the project, which is a turnkey solution, EDP will supply and install all the plant's elements and equipment, and will manage all the formalities, such as its legalisation. It will also be responsible for the annual maintenance of the installation, which includes cleaning the photovoltaic modules, among other preventive interventions.

BigMat, with more than 40 years of history, is a distribution group specialising in construction and DIY products and solutions for professionals and individuals, with a wide range of products made from environmentally friendly materials.

The agreement was announced as part of BigMat Day 2023, the most important private event in the construction sector promoted by the BigMat purchasing centre, a professional meeting place for suppliers, associates and customers in the construction and home refurbishment sector. During the event, BigMat's president, Pedro Viñas, pointed out that: "the BigMat Group is entering the energy sector hand in hand with the most sustainable electricity company, to provide our clients with energy solutions based on the installation of solar panels, thus extending our range of products and services. The signing of this agreement is a sign that BigMat is in continuous growth, both in the development of traditional activity and in the incorporation of new lines of business, which help us to consolidate our leadership position".

From EDP, Miguel Fonseca, EDP's commercial advisor, highlights that "we are looking for flexible business models that adapt to the needs of our customers. We offer them solar solutions, without investment, with guaranteed savings and a team of experts at their disposal. This alliance with BigMat allows them to increase their business competitiveness through energy savings, efficiency and environmental protection".

Self-consumption is one of the energy solutions with the greatest savings potential, both for companies and industries as well as for households.