Renfe and Iberdrola have signed one of the most significant agreements in recent times for the supply of clean energy in Spain.Both companies have signed a long-term contract that will allow the railway operator to cover part of its energy needs with electricity sourced exclusively from wind farms.
In a context increasingly oriented towards reducing the carbon footprint and search for sustainable energy alternativesThis agreement represents a milestone in the country's transport and renewable generation sectors. The supply will be in effect until 2035, with a fixed price throughout the term of the agreement, which provides certainty and stability in the face of the volatility of the electricity market.
Key details of the agreement signed between Renfe and Iberdrola
The contract provides for the delivery of 3.700 gigawatt hours (GWh) of wind energy over a decade., that is, about 370 GWh per year, from facilities that They will add up to a power of nearly 190 megawatts (MW).This volume is equivalent to the annual consumption of hundreds of thousands of households and will allow Renfe trains to maintain their position as one of the most efficient and sustainable modes of transportation in the country.
Both companies have signed a financial PPA (Power Purchase Agreement), a modality that guarantees the purchase and sale of renewable electricity at an agreed price and for an extended periodThis translates into a double benefit: Renfe ensures predictable energy costs and, at the same time, promotes the integration of clean energy into the national electricity mix.
According to the data reported, The energy supplied under this agreement will prevent more than 2 million tons of CO2 emissions annually in Spain.This figure reinforces the initiative's positive environmental impact and places Renfe and Iberdrola in a leading position in the commitment to decarbonizing rail transport.
Implications for Renfe: stability and sustainability in energy costs
One of the great challenges for companies with high electricity consumption is the managing energy price volatilityThis agreement with Iberdrola allows Renfe to overcome this obstacle, ensuring for the next 10 years a supply at a fixed and predictable priceThe operator emphasizes that this minimizes fluctuations in results resulting from fluctuations in the energy market, a scenario that had been generating uncertainty for the company.
Furthermore, contracting wind energy contributes to Renfe's sustainability goals. Thanks to measures like this, the company has reduced its carbon footprint per unit transported by more than 90%, far exceeding the emission reduction targets set in national and international commitments for 2030.
Renfe's General Manager of Economics and Finance, Marta Torralvo, has emphasized the importance of this type of contract within the group's energy roadmap. She asserts that "Stabilizing energy prices and promoting renewable energy are key to the company's efficient and responsible management.".
Iberdrola's role as a leader in renewable energy and PPA agreements
Iberdrola has extensive international experience in signing and managing PPAs., both in onshore and offshore wind and solar. The Spanish energy company has consolidated its leadership in the European market for long-term contracts for the supply of renewable electricity, as highlighted in the latest report. Pexapark Renewables Market Outlook 2025, which acknowledges that in 2024 it contracted 1.251 MW under this formula, 38% more than in 2023.
The company maintains similar agreements with major global technology and industrial companies, including Amazon, Bayer, BP, Telefónica, Microsoft, Meta, Mercedes-Benz, and Vodafone, among others. According to Iberdrola sources, "these contracts are essential to accelerate the electrification of industry and transportation, and to enable customers to plan their long-term energy costs."
The president of Iberdrola, Ignacio Sánchez Galán, has indicated that Collaboration with Renfe promotes zero-emission electrification in transport, a sector responsible for more than a third of energy demand in Spain.
Environmental impact and reference for the sector
The Renfe-Iberdrola agreement is presented as an example of how large consumers can contribute to the ecological transition by supporting new renewable energy developments and, at the same time, benefit from the reduction of risks associated with electricity price volatility.
Renfe trains already stand out for their low energy consumption per passenger per kilometer, reaching very competitive figures compared to other means of transport, such as private cars or airplanes. In fact, the company estimates that its carbon footprint is between 20 and 30 times lower than that of these other mobility systems.
Through long-term agreements such as the PPA signed with Iberdrola, Renfe is positioned as a key player in the transportation decarbonization, fitting in with state and European plans to combat climate change and promote a more sustainable energy model.
The alliance also strengthens the competitiveness of onshore wind technology within the Spanish energy mix and encourages continued investment in new wind farms, thus boosting the green economy and innovation in the sector.
The joint commitment of Renfe and Iberdrola to wind energy constitutes a significant step towards the Stability, efficiency and sustainability in rail transport and the national energy system, and anticipates new collaborations that will help advance the ecological transition.
