All of these lines of action converge upon a common objective, that is to combat climate change through an unflinching commitment to sustainable development and by integrating this commitment into company strategic planning as follows:
The company has been working along these lines for some time now, and, in addition to its emissions inventory, the company is engaged in significant initiatives to help combat climate change:
In addition to this, potential new investments were actively pursued throughout 2010 in markets of interest to the company..
In summary, with the aim of achieving business objectives and upholding its commitment to sustainability and the struggle against climate change, Abengoa:
Furthermore, through the Focus-Abengoa Foundation, Abengoa also dedicates human and economic resources to promoting social action policies that contribute to human and social progress.
As part of its commitment to sustainable development, Abengoa has created the first postage stamp in the world that offsets the CO2 emissions from sending an ordinary letter in Spain. This service broadens the company’s commitment in the social and human area, offering the chance to reduce the carbon footprint generated by postal deliveries.
By purchasing the “No Co2pollution” stamp, customers will offset the emissions generated by the letter by investing the corresponding amount of money in the 15 MW Kalealti hydroelectric station emissions reduction project in Turkey.
This collectors’ edition has a postage value equivalent to one ordinary letter sent in Spain. In addition to the self-adhesive stamps, the purchase will include a “No Co2pollution” carbon offset certificate issued in the name of the buyer, which provides technical details of the project in which the funds will be invested. Each stamp costs 2.10 €, plus delivery, and can be purchased via the online auction platform Ebay.
Thanks to this novel initiative, Abengoa aims to help users of the postal service to contribute to carbon emissions reduction targets, encouraging them to strengthen their commitment and respect for the environment..
On June 16, the regional minister of Economy, Innovation and Science of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Antonio Ávila Cano, and the Mayor of Sanlúcar la Mayor, Raúl Castilla Gutiérrez, together with José Domínguez Abascal, Abengoa’s general technical officer, and Javier Brey, general director of Hynergreen, inaugurated the renewable hydrogen service station of the Hercules Project, located at the Solúcar Solar Complex in Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville (Spain).
This hydrogen service station, the first in southern Spain and one of only a handful in existence worldwide, will produce hydrogen from solar energy. It is part of the Hercules Project, an Andalusian initiative coordinated globally by Hynergreen, and receives funding from the Andalusian Agency for Innovation and Development (IDEA) and the Ministry of Education and Science, which has categorized the project as being a strategic and unique scientific and technological project.
As part of the project, in collaboration with Santana Motor, a fuel cell-powered electric vehicle was also developed, employing the hydrogen supplied at this service station.
During the inauguration, José Domínguez Abascal, Abengoa’s general technical officer, stressed the importance of a station with these characteristics in “demonstrating our solid commitment to hydrogen as an alternative fuel that is renewable, clean and sustainable”.
In turn, Javier Brey, general director of Hynergreen, pointed out that “Hynergreen R&D investment in these technologies in recent years totals more than €10 M”.
The Hercules Project, which began life in January 2006, has a budget of more than €9 M, and boasts the involvement of Solúcar R&D (Abengoa Solar), Santana Motor, Carburos Metálicos, GreenPower, the Andalusian Energy Agency, INTA and AICIA.