Cero Generation

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden and devastating floods that struck southern Spain yesterday, leaving communities shattered and lives forever changed. Our hearts are with all those affected by this tragedy—the families who have lost loved ones, the displaced, and everyone struggling in the wake of this disaster. We stand in solidarity with all of Spain, joining together in three days of mourning as we honor the memories of those lost and extend our support to those facing immense challenges.

“A win win situation” Our Portfolio Director Marta Sanchez Lopez talks about the huge benefits that can come from combining farming with utility scale solar projects, as well as her upbringing, what inspired her to enter a career in engineering and her hopes for solar projects with grid connections that more directly benefit local communities. Take a look at what Marta had to say here. 

Great work Raphael Raggatt!!

"A profoundly moving experience." That’s how Cero’s Senior Project Manager Dimitrios Papadopoulos described his recent visit to our latest charity partner, The Drama Special School. "Seeing the courage and determination of the students of all ages - especially the young kids - as they expressed themselves through performance was truly inspiring." "Each moment felt like a celebration of their unique voices, as they overcame challenges with remarkable resilience." "The teachers and staff there are nothing short of extraordinary, creating a safe, nurturing space where every student is encouraged to shine." "Their compassion, dedication, and unwavering support are the driving forces behind the students' success." "Every day, these young individuals demonstrate incredible strength and are true heroes, reminding us of the power of perseverance and the limitless potential of the human spirit."

It’s always great to see our community investments take off!   Last year, Cero Generation and our UK development partner, Enso Energy helped fund the development of a new school library with a difference for St Helen's Primary School, in Alveston near Bristol.   The primary school students came up with a great idea to rescue a plane that had finished its useful service from a plane graveyard – and turn it into a school library!   The school then applied for funding from our community engagement fund, set up during the development of our Larks Green Solar project. That money then helped fund the transformation of an old and unused plane fuselage into a fantastic, engaging library! St Helen's Primary School’s Reading Lead Lottie Paul said, “After many months of dreaming, planning and hard work, the Library Plane at St Helen’s has finally taken off. The first visits to the library took place on Thursday 7th March, World Book Day 2024. The children were full of anticipation and expectation as they prepared to board the plane for the first time. The school and local community have pulled together to create a magical space for children to read and explore the world beyond their classrooms. One of our school development priorities is to promote ‘reading for pleasure’ for every child. They can be transported to wild and wonderful places within the pages of a book while onboard the plane. Every class visits the plane library each week where they immerse themselves in a book and enjoy a story time together. The popular reading club is also underway and is one of the most popular clubs in the school!”

Charlie Geller - Cero Generation’s Head of Communications – recently visited Incredible Kids, the children’s charity that we support that serves the community close to our Larks Green solar project. Incredible Kids provide safe spaces for children in the Bristol area with hidden disabilities to play and learn. But it was clear from our visit that the parents get just as much out of the charity as the kids do. Incredible Kids provides an opportunity for parents to speak to and share experiences with other people in a similar position. They also provide advice to help the parents navigate the social care system and access the support they need. And probably most importantly it allows those parents the opportunity to have a break, enjoy a cup of tea with likeminded people and take a moment for their own mental health. Charlie Geller said, “The carer team at Incredible Kids do incredible work. They are creating inclusive spaces and experiences for kids with additional needs to be themselves and express themselves. This is really important to the children in the area - but also for their parents. I talked to a number of parents who said that that their experiences can be quite different from others and that can make them feel isolated. Having a space where they can talk to people having similar experiences can be a real lifeline.” Over the coming months Cero Generation will explore further opportunities to provide direct support to Incredible Kids by offering site visits to interested children and by providing STEM education experiences during the play sessions. 

Cero Generation has a clear purpose – to deliver a net zero future for this and every generation. We are making important strides in delivering that future. We have a 26GW portfolio and expect to see c6GW of solar and BESS projects entering operation in the next five to six years. But it’s not enough to carry on delivering solar projects. We also need people across Europe to wake up to the fact that if we don’t take urgent action then our children’s futures will be much more challenging than our own. Our CEO Marta Martínez Queimadelos sat down with environmental activist Bella Lack to discuss the inspiring work she is doing to raise awareness of this central issue. It is young people like Bella – and everyone associated with the charities that we are working with through our Next Generation Commitment – that will shape our future. Take a look at that conversation...

📢 Cero Generation is delighted to launch its Next Generation Commitment. ☀ Our company purpose is focused on delivering a net zero future for this and every generation. We now want to go further – and actively support the next generation, our children. As a result, Cero is committing its support to charities that help young people within the communities where we operate. We are very proud to now be working with: Incredible Kids – close to our Larks Green solar and BESS project Incredible Kids is charity providing inclusive play sessions for young people with additional needs and their families. The charity was created by parents in Bristol and is focused on supporting families with similar experiences. Parents work together to bring toys, support each other and create a safe place for their families to play together, while providing parents with access to the advice and information they need in order to seek further help. La Rete – close to our Pontinia agrivoltaic project Founded in July 2000, the voluntary association 'La Rete' is rooted in the social fabric of Pontinia and provides activities for kids with specific needs, including theatre, art workshops and computer courses, with a focus on the sports sector. Through sports practice, they aim to provide opportunities for social integration and well-being for children with a range of disabilities. The Drama Special School – close to our Delfini solar PV project The Department of Physical Rehabilitation and Vocational Education for the Disabled is part of the Department of Chronic Illnesses in Drama. It supports over 50 children with learning, motor, and other disabilities. The funds provided by Cero will be used to provide a sensory waterbed. We will also continue our support for Eleni Papazoglou, the talented young taekwondo star from Greece that we have been supporting for over a year. In March 2024, Eleni won a bronze medal at the Greek National Taekwondo Championships for her weight range. More to come The company expects it will have c6GW of projects entering operation in the next five to six years, and will identify further children’s charities close to these upcoming projects over the coming months and years. But we won’t stop there. Cero is also signing up to STEM Learning UK, a charity that helps bring professional role models into UK schools as part of the STEM Ambassador Programme. Through the programme Cero employees will have the opportunity to undertake a range of different interactions with schools, designed to share our love of STEM subjects and encourage kids from a range of backgrounds to follow careers in the renewable energy sector.

Peter Allen - our Head of Asset Management - sat down to explain our approach to developing solar projects and why we put so much emphasis on making sure the community benefits. Improving biodiversity, keeping the community informed and creating local economic opportunities are fundamental to what we do at Cero. 

Peter Allen - our Head of Asset Management - sat down to explain our approach to developing solar projects and why we put so much emphasis on making sure the community benefits. Improving biodiversity, keeping the community informed and creating local economic opportunities are fundamental to what we do at Cero.