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GE Renewable Energy joins the agreement signed by Capital Energy, Emobi Industries and Sodical to boost the re-industrialisation of El Bierzo

By: Capital Energy · 06 Jun 2022

  • The multinational, which is expected to supply some of the turbines needed for the energy group's wind farms in Castilla y León, would consider the Bierzo-based Emobi Industries as a priority partner for these projects
  • The company from El Bierzo will identify employment opportunities for professionals and suppliers affected by the closure of the old Compostilla thermal power plant, as well as the different coal mining operations in El Bierzo

Ponferrada (León), 29 March 2022.- GE Renewable Energy joins the agreement between Capital Energy, Emobi Industries and Sodical, the Castilla y León regional government’s industrial investment and revitalisation company, with the intention of exploring ways of working together to strengthen the role of renewable energies in the process of re-industrialisation of El Bierzo, which has been strongly affected by the closure of mining and thermal power plants.

This memorandum of understanding linked to the initial strategic agreement envisages that GE's Renewable Energy could supply part of the turbines needed for the construction of Capital Energy's wind farms in Castilla y León. Furthermore, and within the framework of Capital Energy’s commitment to Emobi Industries at the beginning of February to promote the purchase of wind towers manufactured by the Bierzo-based enterprise among the suppliers of its facilities in the region, GE Renewable Energy would rank Emobi Industries as a priority partner for these projects.

At the same time, the Bierzo-based manufacturer undertakes to prioritise the hiring of local workers and suppliers to carry out the aforementioned work, coordinating, together with Capital Energy and local and regional public administrations, retraining for people affected by the closures of thermal power plants and mines, as well as matching unemployed people, young people and the over-55s to job vacancies. This occupational integration has already been achieved through the recent agreement with the main promoter of vocational training in the region, the Santa Bárbara Foundation, a regional government affiliate, to create a direct employment exchange to recruit these people at the facilities of Emobi Industries.

The signing ceremony, held at Capital Energy's offices in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), was attended by the commercial director of GE Renewable Energy, Onshore Wind, in Southern Europe, Blanca Monteagudo; the regional director of the energy enterprise in Castilla y León, Víctor Fernández; and Emobi Industries’ CEO and General Director, Miguel Ángel Díaz and Guillermo Bergareche, respectively.

Blanca Monteagudo noted that “this memorandum of understanding strengthens our bid to develop the wind industry in Spain, and specifically in El Bierzo. We are proud to be contributing, alongside Capital Energy, Emobi Industries and Sodical, to fostering the re-industrialisation of the region from a sector with such a bright future as that of renewable energy.” 

The inclusion of GE Renewable Energy further reinforces the partnership between Capital Energy and Emobi Industries and could help reinforce activities at the wind tower plant in Llanada, Ponferrada. As a result of the initial agreement, the Bierzo enterprise estimated that it could manufacture up to 15 tower sections per week from this year onwards at this facility, where it also expects to create up to 200 new jobs.

Over the next three years, it plans to ramp up its weekly production capacity to attain 45 sections, enabling it to generate up to 600-800 direct jobs and 2,400 indirect jobs, thereby helping to position El Bierzo as a wind power hub of significance on the international stage. In doing so, it will have the support of Sodical, which will analyse the public calls for proposals in the sector to which Emobi Industries might apply. Moreover, Emobi Industries hopes to consolidate the project with the support of the Productive Industrial Investment Assistance Fund (Fondo de Ayuda a la Inversión Industrial Productiva, FAIIP), and to expand its collaboration with the Fair Transition Institute (Instituto de Transición Justa, ITJ).

Finally, under the terms of the agreement signed a few weeks ago, Capital Energy and Emobi Industries undertake to explore new avenues of collaboration as part of their commitment to sustainability. These include signing future renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) and implementing self-sufficiency, storage and green hydrogen solutions in the industrial centres, facilities or factories of the Bierzo enterprise. They will also get together to discuss initiatives related to the development and implementation of circular economy and fair transition activities.

About GE Renewable Energy

GE Renewable Energy is a 16 billion dollar business which combines one of the broadest portfolios in the renewable energy industry to provide end-to-end solutions for our customers demanding reliable and affordable green power. Combining onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, storage, utility-scale solar, and grid solutions as well as hybrid renewables and digital services offerings, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400 gigawatts of clean renewable energy and equipped more than 90% of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions. With nearly 40,000 employees present in more than 80 countries, GE Renewable Energy creates value for customers seeking to power the world with affordable, reliable and sustainable green electrons. Follow us at www.ge.com/renewableenergy, on twitter.com/GErenewables or on www.linkedin.com/enterprise/gerenewableenergy