With the goal of generating an even greater social impact, EDP Energía Solidaria is adopting a broader cycle that will allow the selected projects to develop with greater strength and sustainability.

In this special edition, the EDP Foundation will allocate more than one million euros to support innovative initiatives that promote a fair and inclusive energy transition, particularly benefiting vulnerable groups and territories.

Since its inception in Spain, the program has allocated nearly €7 million to 202 projects from more than 100 organizations, positively impacting the quality of life of more than 620,000 people. This year, the program introduces a two-phase structure.

The first phase, which will be open from April 1 to May 31 at fundacionedp.es, will allow entities to submit a simplified application.

Only those proposals that pass this initial phase will be eligible for the second stage, where a full application will be requested. This new structure aims to facilitate participation and reduce the initial burden for applicant entities.

Projects will be evaluated based on their social relevance, innovative nature, and long- and medium-term sustainability, as detailed in the program guidelines, available here. Proposals that pass Phase 1 will be notified in July 2025 and will be invited to prepare a full application.

Support and information sessions for interested entities

The EDP Foundation provides various support tools for interested organizations, which can be found in more detail on its website.

• An online information session on April 1st at 1:00 PM.
• In-person workshops to promote knowledge about the just energy transition and the opportunities it represents for sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development in various locations (Asturias, Cádiz, Córdoba, Madrid, and Valencia) between March 24 and April 8.
• A free, one-on-one help desk service is available from April 1 to May 31 to answer questions and optimize application preparation.

Any person or legal entity, including non-profit organizations, private companies, and public administrations, may submit an application for support for projects that meet the established requirements, within the areas of sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, renewable energy, the circular economy, natural heritage and biodiversity, as well as education, training, and participation in the aforementioned areas.

Priority will be given to innovative proposals submitted by groups of entities or those demonstrating a collaborative approach. Each selected project may receive funding of up to €100,000.

Regarding this new edition of EDP Energía Solidaria, Manuel Menéndez , president of the EDP Foundation, highlights that “the EDP Foundation has been promoting social innovation and sustainability for a decade thanks to EDP Energía Solidaria, a transformative initiative that celebrates 10 years of generating a positive impact and fulfilling our main objective: transforming our environment to build a more just and inclusive society.”

A decade of positive impact

The EDP Solidaria program was launched in 2015 as an initiative of the EDP Foundation within its social sphere. In recent years, this project has become more specialized, paying greater attention to sustainability, innovation, and equal access to energy in the areas where EDP operates.

This new approach has led to a new name for the program: EDP Energía Solidaria. Since its launch in Spain, the program has allocated €7 million to 202 projects from more than 100 organizations, positively impacting the quality of life of more than 620,000 people.

Throughout this decade, EDP Energía Solidaria has promoted innovative initiatives that have had a positive impact on vulnerable communities and promoted a fair and inclusive energy transition.

Notable projects include green employment programs for young people at risk of social exclusion, such as the one promoted by the Tomillo Foundation in Madrid in 2016.

The program has also supported initiatives such as “Sustainable Asturias” by Action Against Hunger, which brought this model to rural areas, strengthening territorial integration and the development of disadvantaged communities.

Some projects found the necessary support in the EDP Foundation to grow in successive phases and bring the energy transition closer to different groups, generating social and environmental impact.

This is the case of the program proposed by the Madrid Down Syndrome Foundation, which began in 2017 and for three years gave 125 young people with Down syndrome the opportunity to actively engage in the energy transition. This is also the case of the program launched by Socaire in 2020, which also created a district network of neighborhood organizations in Madrid to combat energy vulnerability.

Initiatives such as “Seniors as Agents of Change” by AFIM21 (2022) have involved older people in promoting energy efficiency, while MovilizaTEA, by the Autism Federation of Castilla y León (2023), has developed sustainable mobility solutions adapted to people with autism spectrum disorders.

Furthermore, recently, the commitment to environmental sustainability has materialized in projects such as Hyliacom’s “De pueblo” (2023), which promotes shared mobility and the circular economy in rural areas, or FAPAS’ commitment to recovering pollinating insects in mountain ecosystems (2024).

These actions reflect EDP’s vision of an energy transition that not only reduces environmental impact, but also strengthens communities and creates opportunities for the future.