• The work is being undertaken by Endesa X and was presented today by the mayor of Zaragoza, Jorge Azcón, and executives of the electricity company and the concessionaire Avanza
• It is one of the most significant public transport electrification projects in Spain due to its magnitude and the transformation of the fleet, which will be made up of 72 electric buses.
• The installation will include 76 charging points, including thirty-seven 100 kW chargers for 12-metre buses and thirty-eight 150 kW chargers, which can also be used for 18-metre buses. There will also be an additional 300 kW semi-rapid charging point for unforeseen circumstances.
• Over 8 million euros have been allocated to the construction and adaptation of the depots' electrical infrastructure so that they have sufficient charging capacity to handle the new electric buses.

Zaragoza City Council, Avanza and Endesa X today presented the start of work on the most important public transport electrification project in Spain, surpassed only by the plans for Madrid. This is in terms both of the scale of electrification of the city's fleet - 68 new electric buses will be added to the four already in service -, and the upgrade of the installations in the depots. The project is part of the effort to make the capital of the region of Aragon a sustainable and climate-neutral city in terms of urban mobility by 2030.

This investment is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

The works were officially inaugurated this morning outside the Torre Olivera substation at a ceremony attended by Jorge Azcón, Mayor of Zaragoza; Natalia Chueca, Councillor for Public Services and Mobility; Guillermo Ríos, Managing Director of Avanza in Zaragoza; Ignacio Montaner, General Manager of Endesa in Aragon; and Juan A. Garrigosa, head of B2G of Endesa X, accompanied by the senior technicians participating in the project and other institutional representatives.

According to the Mayor of Zaragoza, "this means that the revolutionary electrification of public transport in Zaragoza has really begun. Thanks to the line now being built, we will be able to power the 68 new electric buses, which will start to operate over the course of this year. It is a very ambitious project that will make Zaragoza one of the leading cities in terms of the sustainability of its transport networks".

Guillermo Ríos added, "the electrification of city buses is the most ambitious project of this kind that will be undertaken in Spain and is an example of successful public-private sector cooperation that will completely transform mobility in the city".

Ignacio Montaner mentioned that "the decarbonisation of urban mobility, based on public transport, should be an absolute priority and requires a huge effort to be made by the public and private sectors. Cities like Zaragoza, which have embarked with resolve and commitment on an ambitious journey to achieve the full electrification of their urban transport systems, set the example for other parts of Spain".

Electric revolution

This "electric revolution" in Zaragoza's urban public transport network will require significant preparatory work, which will be undertaken by Endesa X to transform the city's bus depots. The investment associated with the construction and adaptation of the electrical infrastructure exceeds 8 million euros.

The following are particularly noteworthy:

• The design of the connection to Endesa Distribución's Torre Olivera electricity transformer substation, from where a high-voltage line, under construction for the last few months, will run.
• The construction of a 1.5-km, 45 kV power line between the Torre Olivera substation and the access point to the Avanza depot;
• It will also be necessary to install a medium-voltage interior distribution network and the associated transformers for the individual charging points.

These operations will ensure that there is sufficient charging capacity as the new buses are added en masse to the fleet: Avanza will supply 68 electric buses in total, fifty-one 12-metre buses and seventeen 18-metre buses.

Juan Garrigosa, Head of Public Administrations at Endesa X, adds "in the case of Zaragoza, a key feature of the electric charging system chosen, and which will be supplied by Endesa X, is the use of inverted pantograph charging systems. Each of these will be able to charge a bus individually. The pantograph is mounted on a fixed structure in the depots and there will be connection plates on the roof of each bus. This system offers significant advantages, especially with regards to maintenance and charging".

76 chargers are to be installed, thirty-seven 100 kW charging points for 12-metre buses and thirty-eight 150 kW charging points that can also be used for 18-metre vehicles (which have a battery installed with a greater capacity, as it needs to move more weight). There will also be an additional 300 kW semi-rapid charging points for unforeseen circumstances. They will all be integrated into Enel X's Smart Charging intelligent management platform.

Urban air quality

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the project is its sustainability in urban environments, due to the significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing each diesel bus with an electric version achieves a saving of 1,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its useful life. When the entire fleet has been replaced by electric vehicles, it is estimated that Zaragoza will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 621,000 tonnes.

Endesa X, supporting public administrations

For Endesa X, electric public transport plays a key role in the transformation process to create sustainable cities and its eCity business line enables municipalities to develop more sustainable, liveable cities in line with the needs of citizens, providing an ecosystem of electrified and digitalised urban infrastructures combined with innovative solutions that make smart cities a reality. To help cities and their transport operators at every stage of the process, Endesa X participates in the electrification of the service, from the supply of charging equipment and smart management systems to the installation and maintenance of infrastructures throughout their useful life.

Zaragoza, an international focal point for the net zero emissions goal

Zaragoza is one of the locations chosen by the Enel Group, Endesa's main shareholder, to develop an international initiative aimed at achieving its commitment to zero CO2 emissions by 2040.The province of Zaragoza is one of three largest population centres in three different countries chosen to develop this global electrification project, which will see new technology tested, existing technology enhanced and more accessible products and solutions created, thus accelerating the electrification process and enabling the creation of cutting-edge cities in terms of electrification before 2030. Zaragoza, Sardinia and Santiago de Chile are at the heart of this project, which will see the introduction of new business models and products and improvements to network services.

The province of Zaragoza is the only Spanish region participating in this initiative, since its energy context means that the electrification of the entire province can be undertaken faster, more safely and with fewer risks. With an investment of 19 million euros, Endesa X and the distribution and supply areas are already working in the field of public administrations, in the business sphere, in transport and in the residential environment to meet all local requirements and offer the best electrification solutions that guarantee the protection of the environment and that will enable public transport to be fully electrified by 2030, in addition to the development of a robust electric charging infrastructure. More than 500 electrification and transport projects will be launched and the electrification of homes and businesses boosted with the introduction of new electrical equipment.

About Endesa

Endesa is the largest 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 generation, distribution and marketing business. It also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage in homes, companies, industries and public administrations through Endesa X. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribution and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR-related matters. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, Europe's largest electricity group.

Endesa X  is a business line of Endesa that provides innovative solutions that support the energy transition, turning the goals of decarbonisation and electrification into beneficial activities for cities, businesses and people in a constantly evolving world. With a strategy focusing on digitalisation and innovation, Endesa X provides an ecosystem of closely interconnected solutions that turn energy into new opportunities for a number of sectors, including electric mobility, public and private energy efficiency, artificial intelligence services, data analysis and energy consulting. Endesa X designs, creates and provides modular commercial solutions that enable everyone to create new value as a result of the innovative use of energy. This approach focuses on the principles of sustainability and circular economy to offer households, administrations and companies an alternative model that respects the environment and integrates technological innovation in the daily lives of customers, which are the focus of the company's strategy. Endesa X is a strategic partner that makes new opportunities a reality. Endesa X is the Spanish and Portuguese division of Enel X, a world leader in the field of advanced energy solutions, managing demand response services with around 7.4 GW of total capacity and 137 MW of installed storage capacity worldwide, also owning around 232,000 charging stations for electric vehicles worldwide.