HISPASAT, the Spanish satellite communications operator, has taken another step towards its commitment to the environment by approving the installation of a photovoltaic plant at its satellite control centre located in Arganda del Rey (Madrid). The plant is expected to be operational in less than a year, and it is expected to provide 26% of the energy needed to operate the centre. It will provide an annual output of around 782,000 kW and accumulated savings of 1.5 million Euros throughout the plant's life, along with an important reduction in the environmental impact generated by the company's activity.
This decision follows the initiative put in place in 2018, when the operator signed a contract with Acciona Green Energy so that the centre is supplied with electricity with a Guarantee of Origin (GdOs) which accredits that 100% of the electricity consumed has been produced by renewable sources or high-efficiency co-generation from anywhere in the country.
With these two actions, the company can ensure the origin of completely green energy, which leads to a decreased fossil fuel usage in order to prevent global warming and decrease Hispasat's ecological footprint through renewable, inexhaustible, and non-polluting energy.
These actions will limit the CO2 emissions to the atmosphere coming from electricity consumption and will thus contribute to environmental conservation.
Both initiatives form part of HISPASAT's Corporate Social Responsibility policy in line with respect for the environment as part of its global commitment to sustainability and excellence and the search for improved energy efficiency at its facilities.
Sustainable HISPASAT In recent years, the company has carried out different actions and participated in initiatives in order to contribute to protecting the environment and reducing its environmental impact.
In this sense, apart from improved energy efficiency, the company has worked on progressively reducing the use of raw materials, in particular paper; on progressively eliminating the use of plastic; and on properly managing waste and on promoting upgrading the company's fleet of vehicles -one of the elements with the greatest ecological impact- towards hybrid and electrical cars, among others.
The company has also carried out awareness campaigns to promote proactive attitudes concerning the preservation of the environment among HISPASAT's professionals. Since 2016, the company has participated in the WWF's “Earth Hour” campaign, turning off the lights at its Madrid headquarters.