Capital Energy and Copsesa have entered into a strategic partnership agreement to boost wind power development in Cantabria

As part of the renewable energy company’s commitment to the socio-economic progress of all the territories in which it operates 

• This leading Cantabrian construction group will be able to play a role in the future commissioning of the wind farms that the renewable energy company is developing in the region, while also participating in the development of clean energy facilities in other regions 

• Capital Energy is developing more than 530 MW in the region, spread over 13 projects, all of them in the wind energy sector. Building this portfolio could involve an overall investment of more than 500 million euros, creating 2,000 jobs during peak construction periods and around 80 permanent jobs in operation and maintenance

Santander, 20 January 2023.- Capital Energy, a Spanish energy company founded two decades ago and aiming to become the Iberian Peninsula’s first vertically integrated, fully renewable operator, continues to make strides to consolidate the development of its clean energy project in a Cantabria, with the help of local partners. 

The company and the Cantabrian group Copsesa, a leader in the construction sector with vast experience and which has also been involved in the commissioning of wind farms, have entered into a strategic partnership agreement with the aim of driving the implementation of renewable energy generation projects in the autonomous region of Cantabria. 

This agreement, sealed as part of Capital Energy’s commitment to the socio-economic progress of all the territories in which it conducts its business, opens the door to Copsesa’s participation in the future building of the wind farms that the renewable energy company is developing in this community, as well as in clean energy facilities that are being developed in other regions. 

In that regard, the partnership agreement —which stems from Capital Energy’s growing need to hire local suppliers as a result of the progress in developing its portfolio of renewable projects— seeks to take advantage of the synergies between the two companies and the experience and added value contributed by Copsesa, one of whose strengths is having its own fleet of machinery and professional team. 

Diego Fabeiro, Head of Assets and Infrastructures at Capital Energy, stated that “this agreement with Copsesa forms part of our Sustainability Strategy, one of the cornerstones of which is the socio-economic and environmental development of the territories in which we conduct our business by boosting the local industrial fabric and generating employment, in this case in Cantabria.”  

In turn, Fernando Garzo, Copsesa’s Head of Strategy and Business Development, highlighted that “the construction of renewable facilities is strategic for our company, given that the way in which we align our business and environmental goals is to continue building, which is our core business, while contributing to achieving carbon neutrality and protecting the environment. We highly value this agreement with Capital Energy, as it is one of the leading companies in the renewable sector in Spain.” 

A solid commitment to renewable development in Cantabria 

Capital Energy has 13 renewable projects in the region, all of which are wind projects, with a combined installed capacity of upwards of 530 megawatts (MW). The construction of this portfolio could entail an overall investment of over 500 million euros, creating more than 2,000 direct jobs during peak periods and a tax contribution of more than 9.4 million euros. 

Furthermore, during the operation and maintenance of these facilities, Capital Energy would provide stable, quality employment for a workforce of more than 80 professionals and would generate an annual economic impact, via local taxes, of more than 1.3 million euros. It would also contribute close to 15 million euros to GDP. 

The locations of these facilities, in 19 municipalities, have been selected after carrying out multi-criteria analysis of all the variables involved (environmental, technical, urban, heritage, social, etc.), and after extensively reviewing all current legislation and regulations. 

Besides its contribution to Cantabria’s social and economic development, Capital Energy’s project would add great environmental value, since this renewable capacity could generate more than 1,400 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean electricity per year, equivalent to the energy consumption of more than 550,000 households, and would prevent the emission of more than 520,000 tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere. 

These figures are proof that the company, which recently received its first positive Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) in Cantabria for the Bustatur wind farm, endeavours to become a driving force for regional development. The aim is to reconcile two objectives: contributing to the decarbonisation of the economy, through the implementation of renewable energy, and promoting the economic and social growth of all the territories in which it operates. 

Capital Energy’s leverage effect on the Cantabrian economy is already under way. In fact, besides reaching this agreement with Copsesa, the group is contracting the services of many local companies and entities, chiefly consultancy firms, such as Adra Ingeniería y Gestión del Medio, Ambium Consultores, BHS Consultores Ambientales, Universidad de Cantabria and Rizoma. Accordingly, many of these companies and entities are increasing their staff in order to be able to provide the required service. 

The company also has an office in Santander, from where a dozen professionals from Cantabria are working to roll out clean energy in their region, and there is scope to expand their staff as the projects progress. 

Lastly, and in order to complement its contribution to the community, Capital Energy has joined the Sustainable Cantabria initiative, which fosters a model of democratised solutions in the community and seeks to generate ecosystems based on sustainable transformation, together with the Regional Hydrogen Platform of Cantabria (PH2C) and the Cantabria Rural and Intelligent Territory Association. 

About Capital Energy

In line with its commitment to a green and fair energy transition, Capital Energy currently has a wind and solar portfolio on the Iberian Peninsula of over 30 gigawatts (GW) of power, with more than 8.5 GW already awarded grid access permits.

Capital Energy has achieved its strategic goal of being present along the entire value chain of renewable generation: from design, where the enterprise has a consolidated position thanks to its 20-year track record, to construction, production, storage, operation and supply. The company has 15 offices in Spain and Portugal, with almost 360 employees.