The CEO of EDP Spain, Rui Teixeira, inaugurated this morning the summer course 'The ESG strategy at the heart of the Energy Transformation. A decisive decade', together with the President of Cantabria, Miguel Ángel Revilla, and the Mayoress of Santander, Gema Igual. The seminar, organised by EDP as part of the summer courses of the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP), analyses the contribution of ESG aspects to the energy transformation on 22 and 23 July in Santander.

During the opening ceremony, Rui Teixeira pointed out that "EDP has recently defined its strategy, by which it is committed to becoming a carbon neutral company by 2030, with one hundred percent of its generation coming from renewable sources and all of its business generated through energy transition businesses". EDP's CEO added that these objectives will be achieved "through an ambitious investment programme, in which 24,000 million euros will be invested worldwide until 2025".

With regard to Spain, Rui Teixeira pointed out that "10% of this investment will be dedicated to Spain because, although EDP is present in 19 countries and continues to grow, the company wants to maintain its strong presence in Spain. Therefore, using the Next Generation funds, EDP has identified a set of projects in which more than 1 billion euros could be invested in Spain.

For his part, the President of Cantabria stressed in his speech that "we are at a crucial moment, in which energy moves everything and in which there is no longer any doubt about the existence of climate change. The consequences of this new scenario is a change of energy model in which Europe and the whole world are involved and for which energy companies and other industries are adapting to this transformation".

He indicated that in Cantabria there is a need for wind, solar and hydroelectric energy and that the Autonomous Community is committed to the Wind Energy Plan, as Cantabria cannot remain on the sidelines of this renewable development.

She thanked EDP for its commitment to Cantabria, for its involvement with the region, maintaining its headquarters in the region and pointed out that "the role of the regional government is to help and collaborate in making the energy transformation a success in order to achieve the 2030 objective of 50% renewable production in Spain".

In her speech, Gema Igual, Mayoress of Santander, referred to "the importance of local administrations, because they are closer to the citizens, in this challenge of the sustainable development goals, which requires the work of raising awareness among the population". The local councils, according to the mayoress, also have the task of encouraging and promoting change through specific measures, going on to list various initiatives launched in Santander.

Between today and tomorrow, the course run by EDP will bring together experts from the institutional, academic and business spheres at the Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander to discuss issues such as climate neutrality, the circular economy, measuring the environmental impact of business activity and the contribution of innovation and society as a whole to an energy transformation that makes our economy more sustainable, dynamic and competitive.

The event will bring together representatives from the International Energy Agency, CEOE, CSIC, CDTI, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the Biodiversity Foundation and ECODES.