Testimonial from a facilities and performance manager: Successfully transitioning an industrial site to clean energy
An industrial site facing a major energy challenge
A demanding environment: high costs, urgent modernization, regulatory pressure
Like many industrial sites in Europe, the Stellantis plant in Madrid faced four major challenges:
- a continuous rise in energy costs,
- energy-intensive thermal processes,
- equipment modernization to remain competitive,
- increased regulatory pressure regarding carbon emissions reduction, in line with the objectives of the European Union Climate Package (Fit for 55).
Jesús Tapiador Rodriguez, Head of Facilities and Industrial Performance at STELLANTIS, emphasizes that the main challenge was to “advance decarbonization (…) without any initial investment, while integrating photovoltaic solutions, heat pumps, and energy storage, without impacting daily operations.”
This context is representative of the challenges faced by many industries engaged in the energy transition.
To understand the complexity of this type of initiative, many French manufacturers refer to analyses published by the Ministry of Energy, which highlights the scale of decarbonization challenges in heavy industry.
At the European level, the European Environment Agency notes that industry is a key driver in reducing carbon emissions in the EU.
Why did this Head of Facilities and Industrial Performance decide to take action now?
There were multiple motivations:
- the emergence of mature technologies enabling the electrification of thermal applications through new low-carbon technologies, supported by European initiatives,
- the need to guard against grid fluctuations (analyzed by the European regulator ENTSO-E, as well as by RTE in France),
- growing pressure from government authorities regarding carbon emissions,
- and strengthened CSR commitments at the group level, in line with the standards of the European Green Deal.
The first steps: audit, prioritization, and project setup
A comprehensive energy audit as a starting point
This approach is directly in line with the European Commission’s recommendations, which advocate structured assessments as the starting point for energy efficiency strategies.
Prioritize actions with the highest ROI
- the installation of heat pumps,
- the modernization of critical equipment,
- the integration of smart energy management.
These drivers align with the best practices highlighted by the European Heat Pump Association, which documents the growing role of renewable heat in industry.
A turnkey financial model
The project was based on a model requiring no upfront investment, made possible by third-party financing that covered equipment, implementation, and operation, thanks to GreenYellow’s 100% financed offerings platform.
Europe also supports this type of initiative through several financial instruments (Innovation Fund, Connecting Europe Facility, EIB), detailed on the European Commission’s portal.
In addition, schemes such as the CEE (Energy Saving Certificates) in France can also contribute to the profitability of such projects.
Furthermore, the Head of Facilities and Industrial Performance emphasizes that this integrated approach was decisive, thanks to expertise covering “both equipment and implementation.”
Implementing a comprehensive energy Transition: challenges and solutions
Change management and team engagement
The project’s success was based on clear communication, strong local coordination, and a proactive approach to addressing operational constraints.
Technical challenges overcome
Key challenges include:
- the integration of 4.64 MWp of solar power,
- the commissioning of a 25 MWh storage system,
- and dynamic consumption management.
These topics are fully aligned with efforts at the European level to modernize industrial processes and gradually electrify them. They also align with sector-specific analyses that highlight the central role of solar power and energy storage as drivers of competitiveness and self-sufficiency for industrial sites.
The key role of the energy partner
Results: performance, energy efficiency, and quick results
Local low-carbon energy production
- 4.64 MWp of installed capacity
- 6.7 GWh/year generated for self-consumption
These results perfectly illustrate the European Commission’s recommendations aimed at increasing renewable energy production directly at the point of use.
Improved energy efficiency
- 57% energy savings thanks to heat pumps
- 2.9 GWh saved per year
These gains are in line with the targets set by the Fit for 55 initiative and the Energy Efficiency Directives (EED).
Greater energy independence
The site now has one of the most powerful storage battery systems in Europe for an industrial facility, enabling:
- greater energy resilience,
- stabilization of electricity usage,
- a significant reduction in reliance on the grid.
“We have significantly reduced our reliance on the power grid and improved the plant’s energy efficiency,” confirms Jesús Tapiador Rodriguez.
Key takeaways for plant managers
- Diagnosis as a foundation, essential for prioritizing the most cost-effective drivers
- An expert partner = a smooth project; choosing the right partner accelerates the transition.
- The energy transition is not a cost but a business driver—lower operating expenses, greater resilience, and a better environmental reputation.
2026+ outlook: automation, flexibility and advanced energy management
- Automation of energy management,
- optimization via AI,
- and an expansion of energy storage.
These trends align with the European roadmaps published by the EEA and the European Commission regarding low-carbon industrialization.
For further reading
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