The month of March 2013 was the rainiest since recordkeeping began (around 1947, according to the Spanish Meteorology Agency, AEMET). We all probably realised this because of the number of days we had to bring our umbrellas with us, and also because of the images of water discharges and full reservoirs on the TV news.   The fact is that reservoirs play a decisive role in ecosystems, although people are not generally aware of this.

As the main hydroelectric operator in Spain, Iberdrola makes a significant contribution towards mitigating the damage caused by the heavy rainfall, as it manages 8,232 megawatts in four different river basins. This means it operates 73 power plants, 69 dams and 119 weirs, with a maximum capacity of 11,500 Hm³.

Precisely because of the significant value of these ‘hidden services’ provided by reservoirs, I would like to talk to you about the Biovalora project. This initiative was started by the Basque Ecodesign Centre (IHOBE) a year ago and has been supported by Iberdrola throughout. It aims to define a methodology for assessing the economic impact of these services.

The project was carried out in the Tera river basin (Zamora); to be more specific, at the following power plants: Cernadilla (installed capacity of 30 MW and reservoir capacity of 255 Hm³), Valparaíso (68 MW and 162 Hm³) and Agavanzal (24 MW and 34 Hm³). These facilities were selected because they combined a representative number of the ecosystem services to be assessed, such as supplying water for fire prevention, irrigation and human consumption, flood control, recreational tourism, water treatment, etc.  In order to ensure the most reliable results, it was decided to cover the longest possible period of time. For data availability reasons, the period chosen ended up being the last 10 years.

I must say that I myself was the first to be surprised by the results of the project, because I wasn’t aware of all of the effects of reservoirs or just how important they are.  For example, I was struck by the fact that some qualitative considerations obtained in the study were almost more relevant than the economic assessment, such as the importance of supplying water for irrigation purposes.  This is one of the most important services provided by reservoirs, because it allows for development in irrigated areas that would not be possible under normal conditions. This in turn has enabled economic development in countries that would otherwise have been affected by serious economic and population decline, if they had been solely reliant on rain-fed agriculture.

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Another very important function worthy of notice is supplying water for fire prevention purposes. The Biovalora project calculated that a surface area of 590 hectares of land is saved from fire every year because of the water siphoned from reservoirs and discharged by hydroplanes, in the area of Zamora and part of León and Salamanca.

Flood control is another key function of reservoirs, perhaps the best known by the general public. It consists of controlling the torrential rain run-off so that most of it is stored. This reduces the impact of the excess water.   The study revealed that the flood control capacity for the Tera system was 50%, with a 31% reduction in the impact caused.  In other words, the reservoirs included in the study reduce the number of floods that would occur in the area under normal conditions by half. As regards those that cannot be avoided, they allow to reduce by a third the value of the economic damage caused.

This data is not directly replicable for the rest of the river basins, as every reservoir system provides different services and in varying proportions. However, I believe that the results obtained illustrate the importance of these services, which are sometimes not known about but are nonetheless crucial for their local ecosystems.

Personally speaking, the Biovalora project has helped me to realise the sheer scale of the assets and the work we do in the Hydraulic Generation Department. It has also helped me to learn more about an area, the Tera river basin, which I would encourage you all to visit.  The Sierra de la Culebra mountains and Puebla de Sanabria are two examples of these incredible landscapes, which are very rich in terms of nature and culture.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone that took part, as their experience and generosity made it possible to successfully complete the Biovalora project. I would especially like to thank the staff in charge of the Duero river basin, the Environment team at Iberdrola, and the staff of  IHOBE, who organised the initiative.

Author: Alvaro Velasco

Bio: I joined the Renewables Division of Iberdrola in January 2006 as a wind power development technician in Castile and Leon. Then, in 2010, I joined the Technical Department, also in the Renewables Division. In June 2011 I was transferred to Iberdrola Hydraulic Generation, where I’m the Environmental Coordinator in the Hydraulic Technical Service, coordinating and supporting the Operational Units in the Hydraulic Generation Department in all matters concerned with the environment.

Elektro is often the starting point for friendships that develop outside the workplace.  This unity is built on the basis of stories featuring colleagues that are willing to help others and who therefore trigger a chain reaction of human attitudes that are surprising and beneficial to many other people.  In other words, a ‘pay it forward chain’.

The 2013 edition of the Elektro Meeting -  a project with a long tradition in the company that focuses on pooling experiences and renewing our commitment to the personal and professional success of each individual -  featured some of these stories that prove how worthwhile it is to be good to one another.

The ‘pay it forward chain’, the main theme of the 33 events held in 27 cities over a 14-day period, was participated by 32 employees, who talked about particularly significant times in their lives when they received help, often from the least-expected sources.  They were all invited to continue the ‘pay it forward chain’ by acknowledging the attitudes of their colleagues at work that really changed their daily lives.

We have selected statements by some of the people featured at the events to share them in this post:

At the corporate headquarters, Daniel Mello, a legal consultant, was featured at one of the four events held in this city.   He explained that he was involved in a traffic accident and was assisted by Ricardo Gazolla, a work colleague that helped him despite not having known him for very long.  “I’m very proud to be able to share part of my story at Elektro. I tried to motivate everyone to realise how our attitudes in small everyday matters create a more pleasant, happier work atmosphere and help to build a more united team”, Daniel explained.

Júlio Sá, an operator at the Customer Support Centre, showed how the things we do every day can change other people’s lives. “Being featured at the Meeting was really gratifying and enjoyable for me. It gave me the opportunity to talk about a time when various people helped me and showed their concern for me.   As well as being able to thank those people, I was able to show everyone that was there in attendance how important it is for us to look out for one another and that small gestures can be very beneficial to our colleagues”,  Júlio pointed out.

Já Pedro Francisco Neto, a Works and Maintenance electrician in the Central Region, talked about the goodness demonstrated in the midst of difficult times, when he told the story of how his colleagues helped him to deal with his wife’s high-risk pregnancy.  “I talked about what was happening, something that was affecting my life and that of my family.  Our company has people that care not only about our professional performance, but also about our well-being.  I was able to talk about the excellent atmosphere we enjoy here and personally it was very satisfactory to be chosen to speak at this year’s Meeting”, Pedro concluded.

Another employee that took part was Anderson Augusto, a Works and Maintenance electrician in the Eastern Region, who shared his life experiences with his colleagues.  “I would like to thank God and Elektro for believing in me. I’m proud to wear this team uniform, because working here means that I have achieved my goals. I have formed wonderful friendships and my personal life has changed completely. Nowadays, with my wife Luciana, I enjoy the two blessings that I have been given:  Giulia Vitória and Ryan Felipe. My life changed the day I shared my story. We all need each other and together we make up the best company to work for!” exclaimed Anderson.

Clayton Camargo, also an electrician but based in the Southern Region, was honoured to be one of the participants.  “There were so many incredible life stories and I was one of the few to be chosen to talk about my moments.  I know that it is impossible to achieve anything without striving to succeed. It was my dream to work for Elektro and here I am today.  No achievement makes me prouder than being part of this family”, said Clayton.

There was another example of perseverance in Andradina, in the Western Region, when João Pereira, an electrician, gave his presentation and explained how the healthcare package offered by the company was essential in treating a health problem he had.  “I felt an incredible level of satisfaction being part of the Elektro Meeting, because many of the colleagues I work with didn’t know anything about my story. It was very gratifying to explain how important our healthcare package is and how we are welcomed when we join the company.  I hope we continue to convene meetings such as this one”, he went on.

These were just a few of the many stories that were shared at the 2013 Elektro Meeting.  The featured employees talked about their life plans and dreams that came true because people made the difference, thereby proving that if we support one another, we can achieve great things!

Author: Beatriz Ferreira

Bio: I’ve been working for Elektro as a Business Communication and Social Responsibility Analyst for the last two and a half years. I’m responsible for the internal communication resources, such as Elektronet, the Conexão magazine and E-lektros. I first started my Advertising training in 2003 and I have been working in the area of communication for over 10 years.

Born and bred in Madrid, my friends always thought of me as a total city girl until my career in Iberdrola led me into an environmental role.  That was what sparked my interest in learning more about the relationship – sometimes positive and other times not so much – between mankind and the environment.

It is obvious that human activity, and in particular industrial activity, has an impact on the environment.  Iberdrola is very aware of this impact and focuses its efforts on carrying out initiatives to reduce the effects its facilities have on their surroundings.

The Fundación Iberdrola also does its share by setting up projects to promote biodiversity.  I am proud to have been in charge of coordinating these projects since I joined the foundation 4 years ago.

Coinciding with World Migratory Bird Day (11th of May), I would like to talk to you all about some of the projects that we are involved in. For example, the MIGRA (bird migration) project launched by the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO) in 2011 with funding from the Fundación Iberdrola, aims to learn more about migratory routes, resting areas along the route, overwintering areas, which species only perform dispersive movements and which are totally sedentary, etc.. It employs the latest GPS satellite emitter and geolocation technologies to gather the necessary data.

This vast amount of information is available free of charge and in real time on  the website www.migraciondeaves.org. I would recommend that you all visit this web page, which now contains data on 142 banded specimens with a total of 228,000 uploaded locations.

However, the Fundación Iberdrola also collaborates with other institutions, such as the Regional Government of Madrid, with which we are running schemes to improve the imperial eagle and black stork populations.  Another project is underway with the Fundación Aquila, with the miraculous birth of the first imperial eagle in captivity as its main achievement so far.  Mention should also be made of the LIFE+ project devoted to the Cantabrian capercaillie. This is a case of public-private cooperation, coordinated by the Fundación Biodiversidad with the participation of various autonomous regions, SEO and funding from the Fundación Iberdrola from the outset.

As part of these projects, I had the opportunity to participate in various banding operations. It is hard to express how moving it is to come up close to a booted eagle, a wonderful blue roller or a black stork chick and put the little “rucksack” with the GPS transmitter on their back.  These devices are attached very carefully and delicately so that the bird isn’t bothered by it and so that they fall off by themselves after a certain period of time has elapsed.  These transmitters are evolving very fast. The ones we attached to the rollers weighed less than five grams, which allowed us to  band this species for the first time ever in the world.

This emotion is transformed into joy – or surprise, I’m not sure how to describe it – when we hold the birds in our hands for a few seconds before giving them back their freedom, equipped with the “spy” device that will tell us where they are at all times. I confess that these experiences have taught me to understand and appreciate the beauty and complexity of our environment.

These schemes are supported by numerous volunteers who give up their time to carry out various tasks that enable the projects to succeed.  I have also discovered that many of our colleagues at Iberdrola are bird enthusiasts and that some of you also take part as volunteers.

The results of these projects provide information that is very valuable and useful for learning more about the birds that share the environment with our infrastructure. That is why, in the current context of limited resources, my reflection on this World Migratory Bird Day is none other than to urge all citizens, companies and institutions to get actively involved and come together to launch projects so that the uniqueness of our bird fauna is leveraged to contribute value and promote local development.

Author: Carmen Recio

Bio: I joined Iberdrola in Madrid in 1985. I have held various different posts with an environmental focus for 17 years. Since November 2009 I have been a member of the Fundación Iberdrola team, in charge of the areas of Art & Culture and Biodiversity. My favourite hobby is travelling and enjoying free time with my children, either visiting museums or going hiking.

In my last article I told you about my experience with the APSA association. This time, I want to talk about my visit to the Proyecto Hombre association in Guadalajara, which receives support from the Fundación Iberdrola. In this case, we had decided to fund a comprehensive treatment programme for people with severe alcohol dependence.

What is Proyecto Hombre? As they themselves explain, it is the combined effort of many people -professionals, therapists, relatives and volunteers- that unite and work together to accompany and help people in their process of rehabilitation and reinsertion into society.

When I arrived at the association, I was welcomed by three people, one of whom was Modesto Salgado, secretary and representative of the foundation. The other two introduced themselves very politely as residents undergoing treatment and at the reinsertion stage. The first thing that struck me was the frank way in which they introduced themselves, addressing the existence of an alcoholism problem and that they were staying at the residence.

The fact is that like any other type of dependence, alcoholism is a serious chronic disease. The first step towards commencing treatment is for the person to accept that they have a problem.

After we had introduced ourselves, they showed me around the residence where they carry out each of the activities (therapeutic, educational, medical-health, training, guidance and reinsertion in the labour market). As we walked around the facilities, they told me about the early days, accepting the problem, suffering in silence, the social and family consequences…One of them said that the alcoholic patient often thinks that others are exaggerating when the family says they have a disease and that it is common for them to deny the issue and conceal it, out of shame.

When I asked them about the place occupied by the family, they explained that the family are always the first to suffer the consequences if one of their loved ones becomes an alcoholic. However, fear of being abandoned by their family or a real threat of a break-up is usually the reason that triggers the patient to seek help.

They went on to describe their daily routine at the residence, explaining that treatment was divided into two separate stages and what the rehabilitation consisted of. The first stage is the therapeutic community stage, which is residential and incompatible with employment.  It lasts around eight months and contact is maintained with the family with scheduled weekend outings.

This is followed by the reinsertion stage, a socio-labour programme lasting nine months, in which the patient no longer lives at the centre and returns to normal life, working as a member of a group or on their own.  If they meet the targets set, they are discharged from the therapy.

After my visit, the residents and the Proyecto Hombre foundation thanked the Fundación Iberdrola for its support. I asked one of them to write a short account of the important experiences they had gone through.  I’ve copied it here below, as I think that reading this letter could be useful in the rehabilitation process for the patient and in supporting his family. It also highlights the importance of the work carried out by associations, mental health centres and other healthcare institutions.

“It doesn’t matter what my name is or how old I am; I might be young, I might be old, it doesn’t matter. The fact is that I’m a drug addict.

I didn’t realise that my life was gradually falling to pieces, but my wife, my daughter and my family did.

I didn’t think, I didn’t tackle my problems, I hid and found an escape in drugs (hard drugs, alcohol, what does it matter!).

Then my wife said that she couldn’t put up with it any longer, that I had changed, that I was different to the person she once knew and that for her daughter’s sake, she wouldn’t allow it to continue.  Then they proposed that I should make a decision, and for the first time in a long time, I MADE A DECISION.

I entered Proyecto Hombre, where they taught me that there is a way that doesn’t include drugs and that it’s possible to give them up.

With the passing of time and the help of the whole therapeutic team and the other patients I spend my days with in this new life of ours, I have realised that I can go back to being me, to being the father, husband, son and brother that I used to be. For me, to see my daughter smile again means that the effort I’m making is worth it.

I would like to thank Proyecto Hombre for all the help they are giving me and that they can help other people like me that get to this point.  My therapist advised us to choose a motto to start the day.   I say: ‘You’re a good father’”.

Author: Encarna García-Ludeña.

Bio: I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in International Business, from Saint Louis University (Madrid Campus). After several years working in various sectors such as finance and pharmaceuticals, I joined Iberdrola´s retail area of in 2003. In 2006, I moved to Valencia to join the Spanish Challenge sailing team, sponsored by Iberdrola, during the 32nd America’s Cup. I returned to Madrid after a year and I currently work in Fundación Iberdrola, where I’m in charge of the areas of Training & Research and Cooperation & Solidarity. My first priority is to devote my free time to my daughter. Paradoxical as it may seem coming from someone that lives in Madrid, the sea is one of my greatest passions!

Try to imagine a new alternative means of urban transport: one that is lightweight, one that gives you a work-out, one that skips the traffic jams, saves you time looking for a parking space, one that is zero emissions and which only requires a small outlay.

Believe it or not, it already exists! It’s not science fiction; it’s the electric bicycle, a means of transport that combines modernity, environmental responsibility and sustainable mobility.  That is why today, on World Bicycle Day, I would like to talk to you all about the electric version of this environmentally friendly means of transport.

So why choose the bicycle? And why the electric version, or e-bike? Riding a bike (with or without an engine) is undoubtedly one of the healthiest ways of travelling, because cycling is a healthy activity that prevents cardiovascular disease and helps to keep us fit.

However, sometimes the effort required – either because of the distance or because of the existence of long or steep hills – can be too much. In that case, the electric bicycle is a great choice.

An e-bike is a bicycle with pedal-assist technology that uses an engine with a rated power of not more than 250W to supplement the cyclist’s muscle power. This means that the engine only works in addition to pedalling, and that it stops when the cyclist stops pedalling or the speed goes over 25 km/h.  The pedal-assist system incorporates a sensor that detects pedal speed or the force transmitted to them.  When the pedal is pressed or the chain wheel is turned, an electronic controller records this signal from the sensor and supplies energy to the engine so that it can support the movement of the bike at a set speed and force.

How is the battery for this means of transport charged? The bicycle has a cable that is connected to the battery and a conventional 230 V electricity plug. Depending on the model, it is fully charged after 3 to 6 hours.  This battery is removable so that it can be carried out easily and conveniently charged wherever you want. And if it runs out, it works just like an ordinary bicycle, just heavier.

What kind of batteries are used? Nowadays lithium batteries are becoming more popular, because of their advantages, including lower energy density per cm³ (less weight), the lack of “memory effect” and the higher number of charge cycles.

As regards range; although it depends on the force applied by the cyclist when pedalling, their weight, the battery amps and the type of terrain, it varies between 35 – 60 km.

Type-approved electric bicycles (European Directive 2002/24/EC) have the same legal status as traditional bicycles, so they don’t need insurance, a driving license or any specific documentation and they can use the designated cycle lanes.

There are also some e-bikes on the market that come with an accelerator that starts the engine whether or not the cyclist is pedalling up to 6 km/h.  In that case, they don’t have the same features as conventional bikes.

Costwise, around 1 KWh (0,17 € approx.) is consumed for every 100 km, which means that you won’t be able to find a more profitable vehicle on the market – not to mention the fact that they are noiseless, healthy, efficient and environmentally friendly (zero emissions).

You could also say that there is a different model for every need:  for those wishing to get from A to B in their own city, travel between different cities or enjoy cyclotourism, mountain-biking or cycling on the road.  For those that are concerned about space, there are fold-away models that can be stored anywhere or comfortably taken on public transport.

Now, what are you waiting for, to pedal off into the future? If you are interested, our company runs the Iberdrola Green Mobility Plan, which offers the possibility of buying electric vehicles (including a broad range of e-bikes), with special financial conditions and exclusive offers for employees.

Author: Silvia Cestau

Bio: I’m an Industrial Engineer with a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Management. Right now I’m writing my doctoral thesis. Ever since I qualified, I have been working in companies connected to the energy sector. I joined Iberdrola in 2007. I’ve been working with the Retail team since 2010, in the Green Mobility Department, Eco-Efficiency and Energy Services Division, where we offer retail solutions to promote electrical mobility.

Two years ago I was given the chance to join the Iberdrola Group’s first International Graduate Scheme, along with 20 other people.  It was an unforgettable experience for me and for all my colleagues, because of the fantastic professional experience and the opportunity for personal growth we received. The experience of living abroad always gives a person a level of responsibility and strength that I believe to be very important and very valuable, for both personal and professional development.

This initiative by Iberdrola aims to recruit recent graduates and train them for two years in the different countries where the company operates (Spain, the U.K., and the U.S.) so that they may learn about the various areas of the company and then transfer the knowledge acquired in their countries of origin. The idea is that they should serve as a bridge and bring the different countries closer together, thus promoting a global outlook and fostering integration between the companies in the group. During this time, Iberdrola also gave us the opportunity to take part in training sessions and thus build up our communication, teamwork, leadership, project management and commercial skills.

When I arrived in Glasgow, I was really looking forward to learning new things and getting to know new people. The flat-hunting process was a real adventure and my circle of friends became ever wider and closer.  As well as colleagues, we were friends and we spent a lot of time together.  Getting used to the weather was interesting: the umbrella soon became an essential item of clothing. Then Scotland was covered in snow, meaning that you never knew if you’d be able to make it to work, if you’d be able to go on your flight or if your relatives would be able to come to visit.

In my case, I spent the first few months providing support to the Telephone Platforms team in the Retail Department.  Later on, I joined the FIS systems integration project. This was a major initiative, with over 300 people of different nationalities working on it together.  Teamwork was the basis for building a productive day-to-day and a robust system like SAP, with a view to enhancing operational efficiency.

In short, this scheme provides opportunities for development, enabling and extending access to other business perspectives by building up relationships based on collaboration, exchanging information and liaising on a personal level with professionals in other countries.

I am aware of how privileged we were to have been able to take part in this initiative. I am very proud to belong to such a strong company, with so many opportunities for development and learning, as well as projects and policies aimed at protecting workers’ interests. I believe that any investment made in training is productive for workers and for the company.

The scheme ended a few months ago and each of us graduates has joined the company’s various businesses with the same level of enthusiasm and interest that we showed when we started our first stint in our designated countries. However, this time around, we are equipped with extensive experience that will serve us well in this new beginning, as we face new challenges and even more eager to continue learning about the company.

Author: María Torres Nales

Bio: I’m a graduate of Business Administration and Management from CUNEF. I started working in Iberdrola providing support to the Presence-Based Channels team in the Retail Department. One year later, I joined the Call Centre team at ScottishPower. This was followed by a traineeship in the reading and billing area of the FIS systems integration project in the U.K. I’m now a member of the Planning and Management team for the Liberalised Business.

Like so many others at Iberdrola Renewables, wind energy has become my life’s work. I came to it from a career working air quality issues, and from that I knew the status quo of conventional energy production was detrimental to wildlife and human health issues. I joined the wind energy industry to become part of the solution to those challenges, and have had the honor of carrying on the critically important environmental work begun at this company by the late Andy Linehan.

To do this work is an honor in itself, and to receive the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Andrew Linehan Award for Environmental Excellence for my efforts is doubly rewarding. AWEA is a trade association that represents hundreds of wind energy advocates from around the world. AWEA established the Award for Environmental Excellence in honor of Andy Linehan in 2010, after Andy succumbed to a long battle with cancer. The award recognizes individuals in the wind industry “who contribute to the responsible siting and permitting of individual projects, who tackle wildlife issues proactively and who work to establish and advance, as Andy did, the highest environmental standards for the industry.”

Andy was never one to call attention to his good work, though others could not help but notice his tireless commitment to reduce wind energy’s impact on wildlife. Andy was the catalyst for Iberdrola Renewables’ voluntarily adopting our Avian and Bat Protection Policy. This groundbreaking plan remains a point of quiet pride for Iberdrola Renewables, and symbolizes Andy’s personality. It wasn’t required of us; it was simply the right thing to do.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It is critically important that we demonstrate to the world that wind is a truly greenest energy source, and I’m pleased we are making great strides in that direction. Since I joined the company in 2010, I have seen the Avian and Bat Protection Policy implemented across the entire wind fleet, we’ve completed a three-year radar monitoring study of migratory bird and bat use at the Peñascal wind facility in Texas, and continued a nine-year study of increasing the presence of prairie chickens at the operating Elk River wind facility in Kansas.

As we collect more data from our studies and technology evolves, Iberdrola Renewables will continue to find ways to reduce wind’s impact on birds and bats. This work is not something we’re required to do, but we believe it’s the right thing to do. I am grateful to AWEA for honoring this work. It’s a symbol of the hard work we’ve put in and the hard work we have yet to do.

Author: Stu S. Webster

Bio: Iberdrola Renewables’ director of Permitting & Environmental Affairs. I lead Iberdrola Renewables’ regulatory and environmental compliance oversight for all development, construction, and operation of the wind and solar pipeline and operational fleet. During my tenure in the renewable energy industry, I have served in various leadership roles such as Vice-Chair of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Siting Committee and a Board of Director of the American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI). Prior to the wind energy industry, I spent 15 years as an air quality scientist and consultant for public and private sector clients.

We recently completed the project to restore the mine from which the materials were taken for the construction of the Cortes-La Muela power plant, an initiative that 20 Iberdrola employees have been working on for a year and a half.

In my humble opinion, this work was absolutely perfect, with a level of efficiency that proves our company’s interest in projects that combine engineering, construction and environmental affairs.  This was possible because of our experience acquired over more than a hundred years. Iberdrola is the leading electricity utility in Spain in the area of sustainable development, having always sought out the cleanest generation sources and strived for the lowest possible impact in the locations where it builds its facilities.

This is a special project because it was carried out in the area of Cortes de Pallás, one of the places where Iberdrola started out as a company in the early 20th century.

The idea of the restoration arose during the Environmental Impact Study stage of the project to build the Muela II pump storage station. It was during the underground works at the plant that it was discovered that it would be necessary to excavate galleries and caverns to house the reversible generators and transformers, as well as manholes to the pressurised piping system and for the generation cables to connect to the substation.

Iberdrola proposed that the former Cortes mine (surface area approx. 5 ha) should be used as the place to store the soil from the excavation works to build the new plant.

After the work was over, we drew up a project to restore this deposit, consisting of filling, sealing and redesigning the mine. The maintenance work is currently being carried out.  This means that it was possible to restore the obsolete mine and adapt it to the incredibly beautiful natural surroundings.

We planted a total of 2,750 plants and installed protection in the form of  biodegradable plastic tubes to prevent herbivores from feeding on them. The species used were selected according to the autochthonous vegetation in the area, with a special focus on some protected species.  We contacted the La Hunde nursery, located in the town of Ayora in Valencia.

The results were excellent and I am proud to say that the area has been fully restored. However, joy is sometimes shortlived. This summer, Cortes de Pallás and the surrounding villages were engulfed by a terrible fire, among the worst ever in the history of Spain. More than 30,000 hectares were burned.  That’s why I’d like to take advantage of this post to show my support to the people in this region, who are so supportive of our company, and say that I hope this incredibly beautiful county recovers quickly from the fire.

Author: Millán García-Tola

Bio: I have been working in Iberdrola Ingeniería since the year 2000, collaborating on various projects to build facilities, particularly in the Generation business. At the moment, I’m the Head of Construction at the La Muela II site, which will be the largest pump storage hydroelectric power plant in Europe. This project was a huge challenge of engineering and construction and without a doubt the most complex I have encountered in my career. I’m a Civil Engineering graduate from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

We recently presented the conclusions of the Ecodis ecodesign project at the Iberdrola Tower. This project is part of the annual programme run by the Basque Ecodesign Centre, in collaboration with the Ihobe, thepublic agency in the Basque Government that is responsible for enhancing the culture of environmental sustainability in the Basque Country, and the Bilbao College of Engineering.

This goal of this project is to study the applicability of the criteria of ecodesign, according to the requirements and methodology defined in the ISO 14006 standard, in the development of electrical substations. It is a highly detailed study that includes a cost-profit assessment for the installation of the various aspects analysed and a theoretical design for infrastructure that is more sustainable for the future.

First of all, We would like to explain exactly what ‘ecodesign’ means. It’s an approach that combines environmental and efficiency criteria in all stages of designing a competitive product in order to ensure that it makes the lowest possible environmental impact throughout its life cycle.  To implement this feature, the prototype we selected was the new substation located in Ordizia (Guipúzcoa), where a thorough analysis of the life cycle of the facility is being carried out to calculate its environmental impact.

The first round of work consisted of what is known as the Cradle to Gate Life Cycle Analysis, which covers the tasks of resource extraction, construction and assembly of equipment, and the use and operation analysis.  In subsequent phases, the latter stage of the life cycle of the substation, or end-of-life, will be addressed, so as to complete the full life cycle analysis, or cradle-to-grave analysis. When all the work has been completed, there will be comprehensive information on the full environmental footprint of the substation, as well as any possible problems and the associated economic impacts, as well as the main improvements to optimise the lessening of environmental impacts and their associated cost.

Ecodis Project

Ecodis is a cross-disciplinary R&D project carried out by Iberdrola Ingeniería following a proposal from the corporate Innovation, Environment and Quality Division. To be more specific, it was carried out by the Environmental Engineering group (MEDA) and supervised by the Engineering standardisation group, the Iberian Networks department and the Environment Department of Iberdrola Distribución.

This type of research requires public-private collaboration and the cooperation of all of the companies linked to the value chain.  Therefore, it is a joint initiative with the participation of public bodies, universities and manufacturers. Some of the collaborating companies include: Ormazabal, Incoesa, ABB, Arteche, ZiV, Ingeteam, Adhorna and Socap.

The first round of work carried out so far reveals environmental improvements proposed by suppliers that do not involve any additional economic cost for implementation.

By taking part in the Ecodis project, Iberdrola continues to work on making our facilities as environmentally friendly as possible. We believe that initiatives like this one enable us to detect opportunities for environmental enhancement without necessarily increasing project costs.

Author: Inés Gallego

Bio: Industrial Engineer, specialism in Energy Techniques (ETSII Bilbao 1970/75). I started working for companies belonging to the Iberdrola Group in the year 1988. I have spent most of my career in the nuclear field and was appointed Director of Quality and Environment in January 2007. I have four children and I’ve always been interested in music and the theatre. In my free time, as well as going to concerts and the opera, I’m a member of an amateur drama group, where I have acted and directed dozens of plays. We have a great time and all the proceeds from our plays are donated to various NGOs.

Author: Carmelo Angulo

Bio: Degree in Economic Law (Deusto, Bilbao 1980/85) and MBA (ESADE, Barcelona 1986/88). I have been working in IBERDROLA for 15 years in various different corporate organisations, such as Internal Auditing. I now belong to the Innovation, Environment and Quality Division. I also worked in our CELPE and COELBA companies in Brazil for three years. My hobbies are my family and sport. I go out for a run every time I have half an hour. I also enjoy reading, particularly essays on physics and history.

It was like entering another world and feeling a different energy in the area. I’m going to tell you about a very sudden change in my working life and the huge impact it is currently having on my new career.

It’s been a year since I left Valencia, where I did a job that I couldn’t have imagined doing before, not even in my wildest dreams.  I joined an elite sports team that was going to take part in one of the most important events worldwide, the America’s Cup.  The Iberdrola sailing team worked hard against the odds to compete day after day, to be the best and to win victory after victory. We managed to do it and it was all thanks to team spirit that inspired us all to work together in an atmosphere of commitment, harmony, responsibility, enthusiasm and eagerness to collaborate.

However, I realised that my great challenge was starting all over again when I received confirmation that I would be moving back to Madrid to join the Fundación Iberdrola.  I understood that this time I would be a member of a work team that would combine two areas I’m passionate about: Training & Research and Cooperation & Solidarity.

The first area gives you access to culture and education for young people, the best students that hold the country’s future in their hands.  That is why Iberdrola aims to help them achieve the highest possible level of academic training.

The second area is no less interesting. It would enable me to take my first steps in a job that would help me grow as a person, learn about other realities and better still, to work with the commitment of meeting social demands and needs, while implementing criteria of efficiency. Social action is one of the main lines of work in the Fundación Iberdrola.

I would like to share one of the experiences I had in my visits to the associations supported by the Fundación and talk about some of the stories of daily struggle and perseverance facing a large number of vulnerable families and sectors of the population. The Fundación is very aware of their difficulties and together with other bodies, it is working to enhance their quality of life.

I recently had the opportunity of visiting a family that receives services from the APSA association in a programme funded by the Fundación Iberdrola, which allows Marta to receive home-based care twice a week, in two 45-minute sessions.  Marta is a disabled girl that needs daily rehabilitation in order to improve her quality of life. Any outing entails considerable risk, both because of the instability that changes in her surroundings cause her, and in physical terms, because of how prone she is to lung problems.  The daily care of the physiotherapist from the UVAD gives the young girl and her family a significant improvement in the quality of life of the entire family.

Moisés Jiménez, Marta’s father, told me how much of a change it had been for the family, compared to the outpatient care.  The first thing he said was that the girl felt a lot more relaxed because she was in familiar, safe surroundings during the session.  “It’s such a relief not to have to take our daughter out of the home, and to be able to talk to a professional about any doubts that crop up at home on a day-to-day basis”, Moisés explained.

Marta let us accompany her in an individual treatment session, supported by her mother, as a way of sharing and showing her gratitude for the economic support they receive from the Fundación Iberdrola as part of its home-based care programme for children with disabilities. Without the foundation’s support, this would not be possible, as it is not contemplated in the support policies provided by the public administrations.

The experience with Marta, and many others, mean that I have even more praise for the work carried out by APSA with the support of the Fundación Iberdrola. It has also been an opportunity to grow as a person.

Author: Encarna García-Ludeña.

Bio: I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in International Business, from Saint Louis University (Madrid Campus). After several years working in various sectors such as finance and pharmaceuticals, I joined Iberdrola´s retail area of in 2003. In 2006, I moved to Valencia to join the Spanish Challenge sailing team, sponsored by Iberdrola, during the 32nd America’s Cup. I returned to Madrid after a year and I currently work in Fundación Iberdrola, where I’m in charge of the areas of Training & Research and Cooperation & Solidarity. My first priority is to devote my free time to my daughter. Paradoxical as it may seem coming from someone that lives in Madrid, the sea is one of my greatest passions!