Basque Government’s Minister for Industry inaugurates Vidrala’s self-consumption solar plant in Llodio

• Alongside the Deputy Minister for Energy Transition, Irantzu Allende, Mikel Jauregi visited one of the largest industrial self-consumption photovoltaic installations in the Basque Country, with 7 MW of installed capacity.
• Vidrala's investment in Llodio, exceeding €3 million, has received a 25% grant under the Basque Government's self-consumption support programme.
• The facility has recently entered into operation and will contribute to the decarbonisation of the Álava plant, which produces more than 500 million glass containers each year.

 

21 July 2026. Vidrala, a leading glass packaging manufacturer with operations across Southern Europe, the United Kingdom and South America, today officially inaugurated its photovoltaic installation in Llodio, together with the Basque Government's Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, and the Deputy Minister for Energy Transition, Irantzu Allende. The new facility will generate 100% renewable electricity for the plant's self-consumption.

The new installation is one of the largest industrial self-consumption photovoltaic facilities in the Basque Country, with an installed capacity of 7 MW covering 30,000 square metres of industrial rooftop. The project represents an investment of €3.2 million and has benefited from a 25% grant under the Basque Government's self-consumption support programme, managed through the Basque Energy Agency (EVE).

The plant will increase the use of renewable energy in the production process at the Álava facility, which manufactures more than 500 million glass containers annually, while reducing CO₂ emissions by 1,909 tonnes per year.

Through differentiated investments focused on the most advanced technological standards, greater energy efficiency, renewable electricity generation and a strong commitment to alternative energy sources, Vidrala continues to maintain one of the lowest emissions ratios in the industry and further strengthens its position as an international benchmark.

During the visit, Mikel Jauregi highlighted that: "The Basque Country must continue advancing towards greater energy autonomy by developing its own renewable electricity generation capacity. We want to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. That is why the Basque Government has launched a self-consumption programme. Over the past five years, we have increased installed capacity by 186 MW, rising from 7 MW to 193 MW by 2025. More recently, we have approved self-consumption projects totalling a further 72.5 MW, including the two Labraza wind farms."

He also stated that: "Almost 60% of this new self-consumption electricity capacity corresponds to photovoltaic installations on industrial buildings. In this respect, Vidrala is a clear example of an industry committed to the energy transition, with the largest industrial self-consumption solar plant in the Basque Country. Vidrala is reducing costs, improving sustainability and strengthening its competitiveness."

Raúl Gómez, CEO of Vidrala, said: "This is a crucial moment for Basque industry. We are facing challenges on multiple fronts, with the most pressing being industrial unrest and labour absenteeism, increasing regulatory burdens, and the energy cost crisis resulting from the situation in the Middle East. Now is the time to act. Industry needs support. Progress towards the energy sovereignty we all seek will not come without effort. We must join forces, raise public awareness and promote, both in Spain and across Europe, the relaxation of poorly designed regulations that have created competitive disadvantages compared with other major regions of the world. We must also remain realistic and pragmatic: environmental sustainability can become a competitive advantage, but it requires greater financial commitment. Today, more than ever, we face investment decisions that will define our future. It is not easy and the responsibility is significant, but Vidrala will never lack ambition or long-term vision. This investment is proof of that commitment: we have transformed our ambition into a tangible project thanks to the constructive collaboration of the Basque institutions. Eskerrik asko."

The new renewable electricity generation plant reflects Vidrala's firm commitment to strengthening competitiveness, with energy autonomy and decarbonisation acting as key strategic drivers. The Group remains committed to ambitious yet selective investment, supporting sustainability projects focused on testing alternative energy sources whenever they are economically competitive, investing in self-generation and prioritising the use of recycled raw materials.

Compared with other packaging materials such as plastic or metal cans, glass stands apart. It is 100% and infinitely recyclable, its inert nature preserves what it contains while protecting people's health, and it is present in life's most important moments. Projects such as the one inaugurated today reinforce its position as the packaging material of the future.