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05-03-2026
Madrid, March 5, 2026 – Correos continues to advance its sustainability strategy by expanding the Correos Solar project , which incorporates five new self-consumption photovoltaic plants at some of its main Automated Processing Centers (CTA). The goal is to generate a significant portion of the energy used in these facilities, reinforcing its commitment to energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
Throughout this year, solar installations will become operational at two logistics centers in Barcelona – Sant Cugat del Vallès (450 kWp) and Barcelona Colón (93.74 kWp) – as well as in Alicante (400 kWp), Valencia (455 kWp), and Seville (528 kWp). These plants will allow, on average, 22% of the energy consumed to come from renewable sources generated on-site.
The postal service launched the Correos Solar project in 2022 with the installation of 960 high-efficiency 540 kWp solar panels at its Automated Processing Center (CTA) in Vallecas, Madrid. This gave its largest logistics center an installed capacity of 518 kWp, making it the largest photovoltaic plant operating for self-consumption. This infrastructure is generating an average of 719,122.94 kWh/year of renewable electricity for self-consumption, representing 22.14% of the CTA's annual energy needs, equivalent to the annual consumption of 280 homes.
Correos has begun a new phase of expansion for its project, which will add six more solar plants before the end of the year. Currently in the contracting phase are the self-consumption installations at centers in Las Palmas (190 kWp), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (120 kWp), the Madrid-Rampa 7 International Exchange Office (690 kWp), as well as those located in Málaga (110 kWp), Palma de Mallorca (280 kWp), and Vitoria (420 kWp). Together, these plants will cover approximately 29% of the energy consumed by these centers.
With this deployment, it is planned that by the end of 2026 Correos will have 12 large photovoltaic electricity generation facilities for self-consumption , without feeding into the grid, with a total generation capacity of 4,255 kWp , which will represent an estimated annual production of between 5.5 and 6.8 million kWh, enough to supply between 1,500 and 2,000 homes, taking into account an average consumption of 3,000 kWh/year per home.
The installation of photovoltaic generation plants for self-consumption requires a very large surface area of panels , which can reach between 20,000 and 25,000 square meters, and in the case of Correos they are located on the roofs of buildings to optimize the use of space.
The company's goal is to extend the project, which began in 2022, to a total of 21 buildings over the next three years. This will allow for an estimated cumulative savings of €4.3 million in energy costs and an approximate production of 25 million kWh between 2024 and 2028. The contracting model, a pioneering initiative in the public sector, combines the purchase of 100% green electricity produced in its own facilities with comprehensive maintenance of the photovoltaic plants.
Energy efficiency measures
In addition to this initiative to install photovoltaic generation plants in its logistics centers, Correos has been committed for years to the use of electricity in its buildings and since 2018 100% of the electricity acquired by Correos comes from totally renewable energy sources with a guarantee of origin, which means emissions avoided that exceed an average of 24,000 tons of CO2 per year .
The recent energy efficiency measures adopted by the postal company include the progressive replacement of oil-fired boilers in its buildings, which will allow for a reduction in total energy consumption by 2026.
During the past year, the company has offset the CO₂ emissions associated with its total natural gas consumption . To achieve this, 90% of emissions have been voluntarily offset through Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) under United Nations standards. The remaining 10% has been offset with CO₂ absorption credits from reforestation projects, certified by the National Register of Carbon Footprint and Absorption Projects of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
In the area of energy management, a national remote management system has been implemented in 571 offices throughout Spain. This system monitors and regulates consumption, lighting, and climate control to improve operational efficiency. It is enabling annual energy savings of 1,331,000 kWh. These measures include adjusting lighting to the center's operational needs and maintaining temperatures in accordance with mandatory regulations for Correos (the Spanish postal service) and the entire Spanish public administration. The average energy savings achieved in offices using this solution exceeds 20%.
In addition to implementing LED lighting in its distribution centers and offices, Correos has for years established itself as a leading player in the Spanish distribution sector in sustainable mobility, boasting the largest fleet of zero-emission and ECO vehicles . Correos has over 4,000 vehicles based on alternative technologies and aims to have 50% of its fleet be sustainable (electric, hybrid, and compressed natural gas vehicles) by 2028, as outlined in its new Strategic Plan 2024-2028.
As part of this fleet electrification plan, the Correos Recarga initiative has deployed 696 charging points for four-wheeled electric vehicles and 2,562 for two-wheeled vehicles. In 2025, the energy recharged reached 1,639,587 kWh, with more than 187,900 recharges carried out, thus promoting cleaner and more efficient mobility.
Source: Correos