Siemens headquarters in Portugal has achieved carbon neutrality. This objective was achieved in the year in which the company celebrates 120 years in Portugal and 70 as an AIP member. The milestone reflects an investment of more than 10 million euros in the energy, sustainable and digital transition of operations. “We will continue to be committed to transforming the country, challenging it to think about the future, which we hope will be more technological, inclusive and sustainable”, guarantees Fernando Silva, CEO of Siemens Portugal.
This milestone, achieved through the Sustainable & Smart Campus project, represents a significant contribution from the Portuguese subsidiary to the company's global sustainability strategy, which aims to become carbon neutral by 2030. Among the initiatives implemented at the Alfragide campus are the optimization of energy systems, the consumption of 100% renewable energy and the digitalization of operations, ensuring greater efficiency and lower environmental impact. In addition to the total reduction (100%) of CO₂ emissions, the project also made it possible to achieve a 33% saving in energy and water consumption compared to 2019. “Achieving carbon neutrality at our headquarters in Alfragide, whose buildings are over 30 years old, is a reflection of the transformative power of technology and proves that the decarbonization of infrastructures is not limited to new or modern buildings in Portugal. And he adds: “as a technology company – with a focus on the areas of energy infrastructure, industry, health and mobility –, we have the technologies needed to make companies and economies more productive, efficient, flexible and resilient.
“Our campus receives, on average, more than 1,000 people per day, including employees, visitors and partner companies. It was with them in mind that we developed this project, so that our spaces are as sustainable, safe, pleasant and inclusive as possible,” said Ricardo Mó, responsible for Siemens Real Estate in Portugal, noting that “the modernization of our headquarters in Alfragide, with 29,000 square meters of built space, allowed us to obtain level B water certification and begin the LEED Communities certification processes for Gold level and BREEAM for buildings”*.
The Sustainable & Smart Campus was based on four pillars – energy sustainability, user experience, environmental protection, and safety and comfort. Among the various solutions implemented are the installation of an intelligent microgrid control system, which integrates and optimizes the energy production of the photovoltaic plant installed on the roofs of practically all buildings, the connection to the grid, the management of the various buildings, the integrated energy storage and security system, as well as the electrification of the canteen and the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which includes 120 chargers and is available to employees and visitors. The creation of this broad and robust charging infrastructure will contribute to another important goal of the company: a 100% electric fleet by 2030, with currently around 50% of cars already being electric or plug-in.
The commitment to sustainability is reflected in all areas of Siemens' operations, with the Sustainable & Smart Campus being a concrete example of a broader vision that is framed within DEGREE (acronym in English): Decarbonization, Ethics, Governance, Resource Efficiency and Equity and Employability.
Siemens Portugal: 120 years of innovation, exports and global impact
The Siemens Group has been in Portugal for 120 years and, as of September 30, 2024, employed 4,003 professionals who support the company's partners and customers on a daily basis in their digitalization and sustainability journeys. Over the last few years, the company has based several global competence centers in the country in the areas of energy, industry, infrastructure, information technology and shared services, which export solutions and services made in Portugal to more than 70 countries on five continents.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport and healthcare. The company creates purposeful technology for the benefit of its customers – whether it’s more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, smarter buildings and grids, more sustainable and comfortable transportation, or more advanced healthcare. By bridging the real and digital worlds, Siemens enables companies to transform their industries and markets, helping them transform the everyday lives of billions of people.
Siemens also owns a majority stake in Siemens Healthineers, a listed, world-leading medical technology company that is shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a world leader in the transmission and production of electrical energy. In fiscal year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €75.9 billion and net income of €9 billion. As of September 30, 2024, the company had approximately 312,000 employees worldwide.
*LEED and BREEAM certifications are assessment and rating systems that measure the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure.
Source: Siemens
