Iberdrola and BP have announced their intention to form a strategic collaboration aiming to help accelerate the energy transition. Together, the companies intend to collaborate to significantly expand fast electric vehicles (EVs) public charging infrastructure to support the adoption of EVs, as well as to develop large-scale green hydrogen production hubs in Spain, Portugal and the UK.
The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, has stated: “with this agreement, we continue advancing in the decarbonisation and energy self-sufficiency through the electrification of two key sectors of our economy, transport and industry. The scale of this challenge requires alliances between companies such as Iberdrola and BP, which have the technology and knowledge necessary to help accelerate Europe's industrial development and generate, at the same time, well-being and new opportunities for all through clean energy."
Bernard Looney, CEO, BP: “Creating the lower carbon energy solutions that our customers want and need requires the integration of different technologies, capabilities and forms of energy. We can deliver this faster and at scale when we work in partnership with others. We have enormous respect for Iberdrola who have been an early leader in the energy transition - and are very excited about what we can deliver together.”
Iberdrola and BP plan to form a joint venture (JV) that intends to invest up to €1 billion to roll out a network of up to 11 000 rapid and ultra-fast EV public charge points across Spain and Portugal, significantly expanding access to charging for consumer and fleet customers, thus accelerating electric mobility.
The plan includes installing and operating an initial 5000 fast charge points by 2025, and up to a total of 11 000 by 2030, including BP and Iberdrola’s existing and future fast charging hubs.
The companies are also looking at options to jointly serve EV customers in the UK.
Iberdrola offers comprehensive mobility services to cover the needs of EV users: residential, business and public charging, including solutions for urban and heavy transport (electrification of buses and trucks).
Iberdrola leads the public charging infrastructure in Spain and Portugal with more than 2500 points in operation and others under development, with renewable energy to decarbonise transport end-to-end.
BP aims to rapidly expand its EV charge points globally, and continues to invest in rapid and ultra-fast charging. Customers already have access to its European network of over 10 000 charge points, mainly in UK and Germany.
BP expects to use some of its extensive and conveniently-located network of 1300 retail sites in Spain and Portugal as locations for charging hubs for the JV. EV drivers would be able to charge in safe locations, with access to additional convenience services.
The companies also plan to form a JV for large-scale integrated green hydrogen production in Spain, Portugal and the UK, as well as production of derivatives such as green ammonia and methanol that can be potentially exported into Nothern Europe.
This strategic collaboration will combine Iberdrola’s track record in renewables development and its global customer base, with BP’s experience in gas processing, trading, and its global customer portfolio.
The companies aim to jointly develop advantaged hydrogen production hubs in Spain, Portugal and UK, with total capacity of up to 600 000 tpy, integrated with new renewable power.
The green hydrogen project at BP's Castellón refinery will be part of the agreement. The two companies, together with the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía, have submitted the Castellón project to the Spanish government's hydrogen value chain PERTE call.
Likewise, Iberdrola and BP's industrial hydrogen projects under development, as well as new projects, will be part of the agreement. Based on this collaboration in Spain, Portugal and UK, the companies intend to explore potential future opportunities for green hydrogen production in other geographies.
BP and Iberdrola aim to finalise both JV agreements by the end of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals.