Investimenti record per 9,94 miliardi di euro spingono l’utile netto di Iberdrola a 3,88 miliardi di euro, in crescita dell’8% sul 2020

Ignacio Galán, presidente di Iberdrola: “L’accelerazione negli investimenti ci ha aiutato a perseguire una forte crescita ad un tasso superiore alle aspettative. Questi risultati riflettono il successo di un modello sostenibile e ci incoraggiano a continuare a lavorare per la decarbonizzazione del sistema energetico”.

23 febbraio 2022 – Il Gruppo Iberdrola (“Iberdrola” o “il Gruppo”) ha annunciato oggi i propri risultati finanziari per l’anno 2021. Di seguito le evidenze principali, insieme al FY Results Report e al comunicato.

Principali dati finanziari:

  • EBITDA di 12 miliardi di euro, in aumento del 20% rispetto all’anno 2020, grazie ai mercati delle energie rinnovabili e delle reti. 
  • Utile netto di 3,88 miliardi di euro, in aumento dell’8%, grazie alla buona performance operativa negli Stati Uniti e in Brasile, alla nuova capacità installata e al maggior peso degli asset di rete regolati.
  • La remunerazione degli azionisti cresce del 5%, a 0,44 euro per azione: il consiglio di amministrazione della società ha proposto un dividendo finale di 0,27 euro lordi per azione, che si aggiunge all’acconto di 0,17 euro lordi per azione pagato a febbraio.

Principali dati operativi:

  • Solida performance nel business delle reti in tutti i mercati, grazie ai sistemi regolatori in vigore e ai benefici dell’aumento degli investimenti.
  • Il business dell’elettrico e della fornitura ha beneficiato dell’aumento della capacità installata delle rinnovabili, con un contributo significativo dell’eolico offshore.
  • La costruzione e la messa in servizio della capacità rinnovabile hanno continuato ad accelerare nell’anno 2021:
    • Quasi 3.500 MW di nuova capacità rinnovabile installata, tra cui: 1.181 MW fotovoltaici, 1.141 MW eolici onshore, 998 MW idroelettrici e 162 MW di batterie.
    • La capacità in costruzione ha raggiunto i 7.800 MW.
  • Il business dell’eolico offshore sta guadagnando forza con 1.260 MW in funzione, 2.600 MW in costruzione e 4.600 MW in fasi avanzate di sviluppo, che saranno commissionati entro il 2027.
  • Il totale installato di energie rinnovabili supera ora i 38.000 MW in tutto il mondo.

Continuo investimento nel business:

  • Gli investimenti sono aumentati a 9,94 miliardi di euro nell’esercizio 2021, con un incremento del 3% rispetto all’anno precedente:
    • Il 90% è stato dedicato alla nuova capacità rinnovabile e alle reti intelligenti, tra cui
      • Più di 4,3 miliardi di euro investiti nelle rinnovabili;
      • Oltre 4,4 miliardi di euro investiti nelle reti intelligenti, con una crescita del 23% rispetto a fine 2020, in linea con la strategia del gruppo di rafforzare le infrastrutture chiave per la transizione energetica e l’elettrificazione dell’economia. Di conseguenza, il patrimonio regolato della società ammonta a 33 miliardi di euro.
    • Riguardo al mercato, più della metà degli investimenti sono stati destinati agli Stati Uniti (28%) e alla Spagna (24%).

Principali dati non finanziari:

  • L’azienda ha ridotto le emissioni in Europa a 60 gr/kWh, grazie alla chiusura di tutte le sue centrali a carbone. Di conseguenza, l’87% della produzione del continente è senza emissioni.
  • La percentuale di donne in posizioni manageriali continua ad aumentare ed ora si attesta al 34%.
  • Iberdrola ha assunto più di 5.500 persone in tutto il mondo nel 2021 e il gruppo favorisce più di 400.000 posti di lavoro nella sua catena di approvvigionamento.

Outlook:

  • Guidance per il FY22: l’utile netto dovrebbe raggiungere tra i 4 e i 4,2 miliardi di euro.

 

In 2021, Iberdrola continued to reaffirm its role as a driver of economic growth and employment in the countries where it operates. The company invested a record €9.94 billion in the period, 3% more than the previous year. This investment effort was focused on the smart grid business (45% of total) and renewables (44%) to accelerate the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the energy system.

The United States (€2.73 billion) and Spain (€2.38 billion) accounted for more than half of the investment. Brazil, with €1.89 billion, and other countries, mainly in Europe, with €1.56 billion also saw considerable investment. 

Helped by increased investments and international expansion, in 2021 the company posted €3.88 billion net profit, up by 8%. The positive growth in the United States and Brazil has offset the negative performance of the generation and supply business, affected by high energy prices in Spain and the United Kingdom. 

The good results in 2021, and the future outlook for the renewables business, allow Iberdrola to reaffirm its growth forecasts for 2022, with net profit set to reach between €4 billion and €4.2 billion.

The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán said: “The acceleration of investments has helped us to continue to show strong growth at a higher rate than expected. These results reflect the success of a sustainable model and encourage us to continue working towards the decarbonisation of the economy.”

 

Growing commitment to renewables, grids and storage

The company allocated more than €4.3 billion investments to renewables. This effort has enabled the group to install 3,500 MW of new clean capacity in the period, bringing total installed renewables to 38,000 MW worldwide. Capacity under construction exceeds 7,800 MW, of which 2,600 MW is related to offshore wind.

Over €4.4 billion investment was attributed to smart grids, representing a 23% growth compared to year-end 2020, in line with the group’s strategy of strengthening key infrastructure for the energy transition and the electrification of the economy. As a result, the company’s regulated assets stand at €33 billion.

In 2021, the investment effort and operating performance boosted gross operating profit (Ebitda) to €12 billion, representing a 20% growth compared to the previous year. This means the company has achieved its gross profit forecast for 2022 one year early.

The networks business showed a solid performance in all countries thanks to the regulatory frameworks in place and increased investments, despite the negative impacts of the exchange rate and covid.

The electricity generation and supply business was driven by the larger installed renewables capacity, which led to a 7.9% increase in production, with a significant contribution from offshore wind technology due to the commissioning of East Anglia 1.

During the year, offshore wind was confirmed as one of the group’s strongest growth areas. The company has 1,258 MW in operation and capacity will grow three-fold by 2025 with the construction of 2,600 MW. The current offshore wind pipeline totals 33,400 GW.

 

Forward-looking model on ESG principles 

Iberdrola continues to strengthen its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, which form the basis of its business model. A pioneer in the energy transition, the company is a benchmark in good governance and transparency and a driver of social transformation.

The group has closed all its coal-fired power plants around the world in response to its decision to replace CO2-emitting facilities with the latest generation of clean energy. In December 2021 the chimney at the former Longannet power station in Scotland was demolished. 

Thanks to the growing share of renewables in its generation mix, emissions intensity has been reduced to 60 grams per kWh in Europe, advancing towards the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral company in Europe by 2030.

As a result of this transformation and of the company’s ongoing focus on good corporate governance, in 2021 the company obtained several accolades, including the World Finance Best Corporate Governance Awards in the United States and Spain.

Iberdrola remains a benchmark in the creation of stable, quality employment. The company hired 5,500 new recruits between January and December 2021, with a clear commitment to youth employment: 40% of new recruits were people under 30 years of age. Also, the number of women in management positions continues to increase and is now 34%.

99% of the company’s workforce has fixed-term contracts with each employee receiving an average of 59 hours of training per year.

“Twenty years ago, Iberdrola took on the challenge of helping to decarbonise the planet through clean energy,” said the Chairman of Iberdrola. “Many have joined this global challenge with words, but the important thing is to show commitment with actions. All companies need to show ambition, with real and credible targets and delivery. At Iberdrola, we will continue along this path,” he added.

 

Shareholder remuneration rises 5% and financial ratios improve

The growth in results allows Iberdrola to recommend a shareholder remuneration of €0.44 gross per share, 5% more than in 2021. The Board of Directors will propose to the General Shareholders’ Meeting the approval of a final dividend of €0.27 gross per share, which will be added to the €0.17 gross per share paid as interim dividend earlier in February.

The company also improved its financial strength over the past year thanks to cash flow generation growing by 9% to €8.91 billion. In 2021, the company has once again reaffirmed its leadership in green finance, with €38.8 billion outstanding under green or sustainable formats.  In addition, the company has more than 70% of revenues generated in countries with an A credit rating.

Liquidity reached €19.5 billion, covering 24 months of financing needs, and the company demonstrated its ability to access markets. In an inflationary context, 80% of the company’s debt is financed at fixed rates with an average maturity of over 6 years.