BNZ’s ESG commitment in 2024
2024 has been a key year in consolidating our commitment to sustainability at BNZ. Since our beginnings, we have been committed to decarbonisation and the energy transition in Europe, moving steadily forward to make a positive impact on both the environment and communities. However, our goal goes beyond basic standards: we want to demonstrate that economic growth can go hand in hand with respect for the planet and people. Beyond generating renewable energy, we work tirelessly to be a driver of social change, promoting inclusion, education and solidarity.
This year we have taken significant steps in our ESG strategy. On the one hand, we have managed to improve our GRESB Asset Assessment score to 81.25%, and we have maintained three ISO certifications, reaffirming our commitment to the highest standards of quality and governance. In addition, we have registered our carbon footprint with the Ministry for Ecological Transition, offsetting it by purchasing carbon credits generated by reforestation projects in Spain. In our ongoing quest for transparency, we have also published our first Sustainability Report and launched a complaints and suggestions mechanism, accessible via a QR code. Finally, we have reinforced our commitment to sustainable finance by obtaining a green loan that will allow us to continue investing in projects that reflect our values.
In the social sphere, we have promoted a wide variety of projects with a strong community focus, with the aim of generating a direct and positive impact. Through the BizGive platform, we have launched outstanding initiatives such as the ‘Aula de la Naturaleza El Picacho’ project in Cádiz, which promotes environmental education. We have also developed various volunteering activities, collaborating with organisations such as DOWN Spain in Almeria, where we support the integration of people with Down syndrome into the workplace, and with the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Trofa in Portugal, in projects such as the Alvarelhos retirement home and the Beach School Day. In Mérida, we have also supported the Iuxtanam Sports Club. In education, we awarded a special prize to the three winning schools of the mODStegg project in Moratalla, Murcia, to be used for sustainable projects in their schools. We have also collaborated with the UPC University on two occasions, participating in a round table on energy transition and in a seminar on innovation in renewable energies.
Our efforts have also focused on protecting the environment and the ecosystem around us. At our solar plant in Emérita, for example, we have moved and relocated beehives, ensuring their survival. We have also developed, together with Ibersyd, a biodiversity project to improve the integration of Spain’s native flora in our plants through compensatory and mitigation measures. This year, we have also continued to work and collaborate with the Wolf Association in northern Portugal. As a member of this initiative, we have allocated a significant budget to their Iberian wolf conservation projects.
Lastly, and as it could not be otherwise in view of the situation that has recently affected the Community of Valencia, we wanted to join the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu’s ‘Valencia Emergencia: La solidaridad de cerca’ campaign. Through this initiative, we have provided support to the most affected towns, covering their basic needs and offering help to those who need it most.
In sum, 2024 has been a year of great achievements, but also of many lessons learned. At BNZ, we know that the challenges are many, that the road to sustainability is a long one, and that continuous effort is key to moving forward. Looking ahead to 2025, we will continue to work with energy and determination to build a greener, more inclusive and fairer future.
