This initiative reinforces the institution’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals
Fira de Barcelona is committed to green energy and, from this year onwards, it will only consume electricity from renewable sources. With this initiative, the institution is taking an important step towards its commitment to the United Nations SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), as it will prevent the emission of 12,500 CO2 tonnes per year.
Fira de Barcelona has signed an agreement with its supplier, Endesa Energía, to ensure that all the electrical energy used at its Montjuïc and Gran Via venues is certified as “green”, in other words, that it comes from renewable sources, including those of solar, wind, hydraulic, biomass, tidal, geothermal, and biogas origin. This will comprise consumption of exhibitors’ stands and fair-related activity itself, lighting of facilities and any generated by sites’ equipment and systems. This initiative will prevent the emission of 12,500 CO2 tonnes each year, a figure equivalent to planting one million trees to offset the amount of CO2.
According to Constantí Serrallonga, General Manager of Fira de Barcelona, this shift towards a renewable energy model entails “taking an important step in terms of sustainability and in our undertaking to promote the sustainable development of our activity, responsible and efficient use of resources, environmental protection, and fight against climate change. An initiative that further reinforces our commitment to assume the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations within the framework of the 2030 Agenda”.
Endesa Energía will certify Fira de Barcelona’s use of 100% renewable energy before the CNMC (National Commission on Markets and Competition).
Other sustainable initiatives
Fira’s commitment to green energy will join other measures that are already being implemented, such as the use of low-consumption (LED) lighting and real-time consumption control systems. In this regard, the institution is a pioneer in Spain in equipping an entire venue (Gran Via) with IoT technology to optimise energy consumption linked to air conditioning.
We should also highlight the fact that the Gran Via venue has one of the largest rooftop photovoltaic plants in the world, with 25,947 panels covering 135,000 m2 that generate 5.86 GWh of electricity per year and prevent the emission of more than 2,200 CO2 tonnes.
Similarly, Fira establishes partnerships with public organisations and entities to promote good sustainability-related practices and provides the options of choosing a stand with a lower environmental impact and using a carbon footprint calculation and offsetting service.
