• The international competition that seeks out business projects is part of the Futur-e Plan, which aims to generate employment and wealth in El Bierzo and will be open until 31 January 2020.
• The company is receiving consultation from a team of experts at the University of León, who have defined the sectors with potential for the future and will evaluate the proposals.

Endesa has opened the period for the presentation of business proposals for the current location of the Compostilla thermal power plant, within the context of the international competition that is part of the Futur-e Plan. The competition aims to generate employment and wealth in El Bierzo after the plant ends operations in June 2020.

This initiative is in response to Endesa's commitment to mitigating the consequences of Europe's energy transition process, with the aim of achieving decarbonisation of the economy in favour of social, economic and environmental sustainability. It is about creating shared value with all local actors, as an example of a circular economy.

The Futur-e project is one of the pillars of Endesa's Future Plan for the areas surrounding the Compostilla thermal power plant, as well as for the company's remaining plants in the process of closure.  This plan has four lines of action:

• Pro-actively searching for employment for those members of staff who are directly affected (employee relocation and prioritisation of local subcontracts in dismantling projects).
• Training to improve the employability of both plant staff and members of the local community.
• Promotion of economic activity and employment in the area (Futur-e and study and development of renewable projects in the area of influence).
• Sustainability in the municipality through proposals for energy efficiency, among others.

Under the umbrella of the Futur-e Plan, Endesa is conducting an intense search for business projects that lead to job creation and long-term sustainability. Endesa will support the implementation of these projects in El Bierzo in the space currently occupied by the thermal power plant in the municipalities of Cubillos del Sil and Ponferrada. The plant occupies 330 hectares of land, 80 hectares of which have the industrial land qualification, making them optimal for the industrial undertaking, as they have electric power supply and access to gas and water. It would also be possible for a project to take advantage of ships, industrial equipment and other infrastructures currently available. In addition, promoters will have the support of a wide range of public aid.

The Compostilla Futur-e Plan follows a model that has already been successfully applied by Enel in Italy, although adapted to the reality of El Bierzo thanks to a team of specialists that the University of León has made available to Endesa. In this process, the University of León is responsible for defining the social, economic and environmental needs of El Bierzo, so that the degree of sustainability of the offerings can fit the real needs of the region, through rigorous checks on the viability of projects and their ability to generate employment. That is why the University of León has identified the large areas of economic development that would be aligned with the interests of the region. In addition, the team of experts highlights the tremendous industrial, mining and metallurgical tradition of the area, and the high receptivity towards industrial and circular economy projects. This culture translates into a high availability of skilled labour in the industrial sector, as well as the presence of specialised training centres.

The team at the University of León that will advise Endesa is led by professors Victoriano Marcelo Gabella, from the Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering, and Nuria González Rabanal, from the Department of Economics and Statistics. The group also includes Enoc Sanz Ablanedo, José Cortizo Álvarez and Constantino García Ramos. As an introduction to the task, on 3 and 4 July, they all took part in a knowledge exchange meeting with professors from Milan Polytechnic University, which carried out successful experiences in Italy, similar to those that will be carried out in El Bierzo.

 In addition to the participation of the University of León, Endesa has the support of the local government and other entities.

With the opening of the call for proposals, which will remain open until 31 January 2020, Endesa invites companies, institutions and other actors to submit projects to develop new business initiatives in El Bierzo. The proposals received will not be considered binding and will be evaluated confidentially in order to draw up a list of eligible projects that will participate in the next phase, with binding offers. Applicants should send their proposals to: planfuturo@endesa.es or contact us at +34 912131656.

Additional information is available at futur-e