- On the roof of the installation they have installed more than 20,500 solar panels, with a total power of 9.2 MW that occupy a total area of more than 40,000 m2.
- It is one of the most important self-consumption projects in Spain.
- Between 10% and 14% of the electricity consumed by the plant will be obtained directly from the sun, and during the hours when the sun is strongest it will meet the factory's total demand for electricity.
- This initiative will be a benchmark for similar projects within the Bridgestone Group.
The factory in Burgos belonging to Bridgestone, a world leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, has successfully completed one of the most important self-consumption projects in Spain, announced in 2021, and undertaken together with Endesa X. From now on, part of the electricity consumed by the factory will be solar energy from the 20,509 solar panels installed on the roof that have a total installed capacity of 9.2 MW. The facility occupies a total surface area of more than 44,000 m2, equivalent to more than five football pitches, which is approximately one third of the total area of the factory.
Specifically, 10% of the energy consumed by the factory in Burgos comes from these panels, a percentage that can reach 14% in some months and on especially sunny summer days, all the machines operating in the plant will be powered by solar energy.
In this way, the plant promotes self-consumption by minimising its impact on both the environment and the electricity grid and is able to produce what is called Km0 energy, that is, the energy will be produced at its point of consumption, which is more beneficial to the environment.
Local companies, including Norsol and Solinec, collaborated in the installation of the panels.
Towards carbon neutrality by 2050
Bridgestone completed this project at an estimated cost of over five million euros, in collaboration with Endesa X, Endesa's energy services subsidiary, and under the modality of a 15-year operating lease through Cogenio Iberia.
The plan is part of Bridgestone's E8 Commitment, announced in 2022 that cross-roots all the company's activities and is an essential feature of its mobility products and solutions. It involves a corporate commitment for 2030, which consists of eight values that begin with the letter "E" (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ergonomics and Empowerment) with the aim of achieving a sustainable environment.
Within this context, the installation at the factory in Burgos is part of the Bridgestone Group's objective of reducing its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030(1) and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
According to Javier Juárez, Manager of the plant, "we are very pleased to see that this project that we announced in 2021 has become a reality. Firstly, it contributes to materialising the Bridgestone Group's objective of being carbon neutral by 2050, but it is also an important step in the decarbonisation of Burgos and a boost to energy transition in the region, which the company is firmly committed to sustainably developing.
Álvaro Otaolaurruchi, B2B Manager at Endesa X, stressed that "the start-up of this new solar plant under an operating lease model demonstrates the role of Endesa X as a facilitating agent in the start-up of projects of this magnitude, combining the client's need to advance with regard to savings and decarbonisation but without financial investment holding them back and ensuring that during the operational useful life of the asset it always performs at its best".
The Burgos factory, an environmental benchmark
The Burgos factory is an example of environmentally friendly activity, both within the Bridgestone Group and the industrial fabric of Burgos. This self-consumption installation will in fact serve as a benchmark when it comes to studying and assessing the possible creation of similar installations in the company's other European plants in the future. The project is an essential feature of Bridgestone's strategy to implement sustainable, smart factories based on sustainable practices and technologies, connecting and digitalising the entire value chain with a view to achieving excellence.
Currently, 100% of the electricity purchased at Bridgestone's European locations originates from renewable sources, including all the tyre factories, the European R+D Centre in Rome, the PCT plant in Lanklaar, the textile plant in Usánsolo and EMIA's headquarters in Brussels.
1 Compared to the baseline for 2011
About Endesa
Endesa is a leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end electricity generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X, it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. It is also the leading operator of charging stations in Spain through Endesa X Way, a business line dedicated entirely to electric mobility. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribución, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.
Endesa X is Endesa's business line dedicated to energy efficiency. Endesa X is a division of Enel X Global Retail and a leader in the development of innovative solutions in support of energy transition. It is aimed at consumers, companies and administrations, providing a modular and integrated offer based on their needs and promoting the electrification of energy uses and digitalisation as motors driving the creation of new value. Endesa X's ecosystem of solutions includes products and services for the optimisation and self-generation of electricity and premium energy efficiency solutions, with the aim of helping customers to create their energy roadmap. Globally, Enel X Global Retail manages demand response services, with 8.1 GW of total capacity. It has installed more than 3 million street lighting points worldwide and provides energy services to 67 million residential customers on a daily basis.
About the Bridgestone Corporation
Bridgestone is a leading global tyre and rubber company that draws on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. It has its headquarters in Tokyo, it employs around 140,000 people worldwide and has a presence in more than 150 countries and territories globally. Bridgestone has a diverse product portfolio based on premium tyres and advanced solutions that with the support of innovative technologies improve the way people around the world move, live, work and enjoy themselves.
About Bridgestone in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India and Africa
Bridgestone in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (Bridgestone EMIA) is the regional Strategic Business Unit of the Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions.
Bridgestone EMIA has its headquarters in Zaventem, Belgium. It employs more than 20,000 people and operates in 40 countries in the region.
Bridgestone has a diverse product portfolio based on premium tyres and advanced solutions for mobility. The company's vision is to be a sustainable solutions company providing value both socially and for the client. Bridgestone's E8 Commitment, a framework of eight values (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ergonomics and Empowerment), is the basis for strategic priorities, decision-making, cultural development and sustainability actions with a view to making this vision a reality.
Bridgestone's E8 Commitment is a broad, global, corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is committed to delivering to society, its clients and future generations in eight focus areas: Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ergonomics and Empowerment. These work as a compass to guide strategic priorities, decision-making and actions in all areas of the business.
Bridgestone Spain is one of the Group's most important subsidiaries in Europe and it is one of the top hundred Spanish companies. With about 3,000 employees, the company has 1 sales office in Madrid and 3 factories located in Burgos, Vizcaya and Santander. Here they produce a comprehensive line of high quality Bridgestone and Firestone tyres.
For more information about Bridgestone en EMIA, go to www.bridgestone-emia.com and press.bridgestone-emia.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.