Acciona: a large multinational with sustainability as its main focus
The leaders meet at the Acciona Campus in Madrid with the president of the Spain-India Council Foundation | VIII edition activity summary
With operations in more than 60 countries, Acciona is a Spanish company specializing in the development and management of sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy. Its activities range from the construction of civil and social infrastructure—such as hospitals, universities, and transportation systems—to the comprehensive management of the water cycle and the production of clean energy through sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biomass.
In India, Acciona currently operates four wind farms in the state of Karnataka and is building a 412 MWp solar photovoltaic plant in Rajasthan, which will start producing energy this year. This facility will generate enough green electricity to power more than 800,000 homes and prevent the emission of more than 700,000 tons of CO₂ annually. The company also promotes social initiatives in the communities where it operates, such as educational scholarships and improvements to school infrastructure.
Acciona also chairs the Spain-India Council Foundation, so the Leaders were invited to its headquarters in Madrid. They were welcomed by José Eugenio Salarich, Director of International Relations; Herma Ehrlichová, Secretary to the President; Eloisa Simioli, Director of Business Development at Acciona Cultura; Enlu Wu, Director of Business Development at Acciona Cultura; and Irina Yakimchuk, Senior Project Coordinator of the Sustainable Development Consulting Department.
The Leaders visited the Acciona Campus, a space designed under the principles of sustainability, innovation, and well-being. Considered one of the most sustainable corporate campuses in Spain, it has international certifications such as WELL and LEED, which endorse its commitment to people's health and respect for the environment. The avant-garde environment of the Acciona Campus combines green areas, efficient buildings, and collaborative spaces that reflect Acciona's "Business as Unusual" philosophy.
The visit continued at the Acciona Museum, the result of extensive research that cataloged historical and cultural heritage artifacts and documents located in various company offices throughout the Iberian Peninsula. This work was carried out by Acciona Living Culture, which is also responsible for the photography exhibition currently on display at the Museum.
During the visit to the museum, the Leaders learned about Acciona's history from its origins, as well as its financial figures and major projects around the world, including India. The Leaders were particularly interested in the Juna solar plant, currently being built by the company in Rajasthan. This 412 MWp facility, scheduled to be operational in 2025, is Acciona's largest project in the Asian country at this moment.
They also enjoyed the "Art Masters" immersive experience organized by Acciona Cultura: an immersive experience that allows visitors to interact, through virtual reality, with some of the most representative works in the Prado Museum's collection, such as Velázquez's Las Meninas, Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights, and Goya's The Sabbath.
After the visit to the headquarters, the Leaders took part in a meeting with Juan Ignacio Entrecanales, Executive Vice President of Acciona and President of the Spain-India Council Foundation.
A delegation of Peruvian startups also took part in this meeting, visiting Spain as part of the 'Puentes de Talento' program, an initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Madrid City Council. These four companies are working in the same field as the Indian Leaders: Paqta (regenerative agriculture), Bioleather Lab (sustainable biomaterials), Cognita Conecta (a biotechnology education platform), and CivilSIG (geospatial technology).
During his presentation, Juan Ignacio Entrecanales explained the functioning and objectives of the Spain-India Council Foundation, emphasizing that "it is a fantastic diplomatic platform for expanding knowledge and potential business opportunities (…) The objective of the Leaders Program is for you to know how we work here in Spain. How our institutions work. How our companies operate. And for us to get to know you as well. The goal is to increase mutual understanding between both countries."
Acciona executives present at the meeting explained the operation of the company's various areas and its subsidiaries, such as Acciona Agua and Acciona Energy, as well as its foundation, Acciona.org, and one of its most recent, Silence, dedicated to the manufacture of 100% electric vehicles.
Acciona's work in India related to smart cities was also highlighted. "We organized many workshops: in Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Surat," said Irina Yakimchuk, project coordinator in the Sustainable Development Consulting department. "We covered many cities. We held roundtables and discussions with the academic world, the public sector, and the private sector on how to develop cities to be sustainable, taking into account the specific needs of India, because talking about India is not the same as talking about other countries."
To conclude the visit, the group enjoyed lunch at the Acciona Campus, during which they continued their discussions and networked with professionals from three different continents.
Asistentes a la reunión:
Acciona
▪️ Juan Ignacio Entrecanales, Executive Vice President of Acciona and President of the Spain-India Council Foundation
