The Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG) commits with energy saving. It makes that with one of the leaders of the energy sector, EDP, through an alliance that is going to boost electric energy self-consumption among its 265 000 federated players and 400 associated golf clubs, that will have available, trough EDP Solar, diverse solutions to carry out photovoltaic installations in their households and sport installations.

Both entities have signed an agreement, that also includes EDP Solar’s energy sponsorship in the installations of the National Golf Center, in Madrid.

The president of the RFEG, Gonzaga Escauriaza, has pointed out that “the whole of the Spanish golf has been working for years in different lines that prove society the environmental benefits generated. The efforts have focused on issues related to irrigation with mostly recycled water unfit for human consumption on golf courses. Now, the alliance with EDP enables us to expand this horizon of sustainability to the energy field and to proof more than ever that it is a “green” activity.”

To Gabriel Nebreda, director of EDP Solar, “we are excited about this alliance, especially because of the great positive environmental impact that it will have at a medium- and long- term. Thousands of people will play golf in Spain with a considerably lower environmental footprint, thanks to the solar energy. We will offer especial conditions to the federated players so that they can also save and generate clean energy in their own households. Our “turnkey” projects are essential for federated players to enjoy their favorite sport, knowing that the club consumes 100% renewable energy.”

As an industry, golf in Spain moves around 3 200 million euros and alone with tourism it represent 1 280 millions. Through this commitment with 100% renewable self-consumption energy in the federated golf installations all over Spain, each club making a self-consumption installation may achieve, in average, a saving equivalent to the annual consumption of 10 households (36 000 kWh).

The benefits of self-consumption are also environmental. Each installation would avoid the annual emission of 9 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, a positive impact in the air quality, similar to the one that would be produced by 700 new trees.

For the federates, each installation in their households would entail an annual saving of over 600 euros, avoiding the emission of more than 1 500 kilos of CO2.

EDP Solar will be exclusively the energy sponsor of the RFEG, joining thus the line of sponsors of the third sport with Olympic representation with the highest number of federates in Spain, after football and basketball.

Through this sponsorship, EDP Solar will support all golfers, in professional tournaments, as well as future generations that dispute amateur competitions of all categories in Spain.

The RFEG has set up a plot focused on the 'green' development of its activity: the Green Section Department, destined to the environment and sustainability in golf courses. In this sense, it has set measures like the risks of recycled water, and only in indispensable areas. Now, thanks to self-consumption and to Solar EDP, it will contribute to this effort to position itself as a sport that is respectful towards the environment.

Moreover, the RFEG is a strategic partner in Spain of the Royal & Ancient St Andrews, golf cradle, that has a fund to promote sustainability in the golf world, and that has already cofounded 2 Spain’s projects with this federation.

This agreement also includes the possibility to develop joint projects between RFEG and EDP Solar to implement innovative solutions for the gold field in subjects of energy efficiency, electric mobility, and electric storage.