The EDP Foundation has launched in Spain a new edition of EDP Energía Solidaria, their platform for investment in social and environmental proposals, as part of their commitment to a fair energy transition and social innovation. This year, more than 1 million euros will be set aside for various projects, always from a sustainable and socially innovative perspective. EDP also considers introducing a specific training to expand the knowledge and capabilities of any organisation interested in making a proposal.

Projects can be submitted from the 1st to the last of May through the fundacionedp.es webpage. This edition’s rules and other relevant information can also be found in this website.

The EDP Foundation looks forward to promoting various new innovative projects this edition, projects that contribute to a fair and inclusive energy transition, and which may produce clear social benefits. Any organisation can submit a proposal to receive up to 100 000 euros of funding in a variety of areas: sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, renewables, circular economy, natural heritage, and biodiversity, in addition to education, training and participation in each of the aforementioned areas.

Furthermore, there is a specialised area for those projects that both are developed and contribute to socioeconomic development of regions where the company currently develops transformational projects for their energy plants. These regions are: Aboño y Soto Ribera, in the Principality of Asturias, and Los Barrios y Puente Nuevo, in Andalusia.

Any legal entity or group may present a submission. This includes non-profit organisations, private businesses and public administration. Projects will be reviewed based on their social importance, innovative nature and both short- and long-term sustainability. Technical staff, contributors and volunteers in the EDP Group will also offer their support to interested organisations during the submission process and the following implementation, should they be selected.

“Here in the EDP Foundation we are deeply committed to a fair transition. Our work is completely aligned with EDP Group’s vision and values, and we work hard to reflect this in each and every of our projects. One such project is EDP Energía Solidaria, through which we want to promote structural changes in our communities and economies to foster more favourable surroundings for all of us, always with an environmental and social approach. We work tirelessly to arrive at this aim”, so has said Vanda Martins, director in the EDP Foundation.

Among other novelties this year we find a virtual training about a fair and inclusive energy transition for any organisations that show interest in the initiative. The EDP Foundation web will hold a session on April 10th, from 10 to 12:30 AM.

These organisations also have a new counseling service at their disposal to guide them throughout the submission process for the next edition. This is a free service that can be accessed from March 19th to May 31st.

EDP Solidaria was born in 2015 as an initiative for the social activity of the EDP Foundation. In recent years this project has went through a process of specialization, paying attention to sustainability, innovation, and equalitarian access to energy in any region where EDP carries out its activities. This new approach called for a rebranding of the initiative to EDP Energía Solidaria.

From the moment it was set up in Spain, the initiative has already invested 6 million euros in 188 projects for more than 120 organizations. It has had a positive impact in the quality of life of more than 580 000 people.