Sustainability
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Moved by the sun
Using electricity from renewable sources, we have eliminated 42,766 of CO2 per year, so we have reduced this emissions by 99.89% since 2018.
Since the 1st of January, our trains and cable cars to mountain stations have been powered exclusively by solar-generated electricity, and we believe this is the way forward. #ElCamíSostenible
All the energy contracted by FGC to run its mountain transport services is generated by solar power. Furthermore, we’re complimenting this commitment by producing our own energy from 100% renewable sources such as biomass energy, hydropower, geothermal energy and solar power. This was one of the main targets set by the company in its 2030 Climate Action Agenda, which outlines FGC’s steadfast commitment to renewable energy over the coming years.
The FGC’s Agenda sets out the company’s transition to majority renewable energy consumption. In 2019, we reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 72% by purchasing green energy from renewable and certified sources. Now, in 2021, FGC will contract all of its energy from photovoltaic sources or, in other words, from solar power plants.
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Move to leave mark
Now, we already take 242,000 private vehicles off the roads every day and save tons of CO2 into the atmosphere to move for a better present. This is the way. # ElcamíSostenible
Various actions aimed at doubling the current supply of public transport as an effective measure for the fight against climate change and air pollution, and as a contribution to more sustainable mobility, are underway in FGC . These actions will increase the company’s current transport capacity from 120 million trips per year to more than 250, thus encouraging a real modal change and the transfer of users from the private vehicle to collective public transport. They are all key projects for a strategy to decarbonize mobility, decontamination and decongestion of cities and urban environments.
Currently, FGC has a transport capacity of 120 million trips per year on the metropolitan and Lleida-La Pobla lines. The planned actions will increase this capacity to 175 million validations per year, with actions such as the incorporation of new trains and the improvement of frequencies on the Barcelona-Vallès line this year 2021, which will increase the current supply on the Vallès line by 30 million, and the reconfiguration of the Llobregat-Anoia service, which will increase its current supply by 25 million.
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Now with less noise
We must reduce the acoustic impact of our trains by 50%, so we all have a better day. This is the way. #TheSustainableWay
In the last two years we have significantly reduced noise impact from our trains with maintenance work, investment in the renovation of facilities, and new units that reduce noise both inside and outside the trains.
Other supporting work that is developed at FGC focuses on the transition towards intensive consumption of renewable energy and resource management based on circular economy: the replacement of work machinery with other zero-emission machinery; changing current gas boilers for other renewable sources; replacement of the fleet with low-emission vehicles; and reducing the use of diesel in freight locomotives by starting to use mixed-energy locomotives.
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Reducing energy consumption
All our facilities already use energy-saving lights to better illuminate our journey every day. This is the way. #TheSustainableWay
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya has worked to reduce electricity consumption by replacing conventional light points with LED-type lighting. During 2020, more than 3,500 points in the stations of the metropolitan lines were replaced, as well as all the outdoor lighting of the Operations Center (COR) and the Center for Fixed Installations (COIF), both located in Rubí. Since 2021, 100% of railway stations have energy-saving lighting.
Eco-calculator
The eco-calculator raises awareness around the importance of using public transport by providing a visual interpretation of the effect that travelling in private vehicles has on the environment. It automatically calculates the reduction in CO2 emissions, improved air quality, increased energy efficiency, economic savings and reduced road congestion and accident incidence for a given journey.
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FGC TURISME
Sustainability governs everything we do, both internally and in the provision of our transport and leisure services. Because if people are our priority, we must be proactive in protecting and preserving the environment they live in.
For this reason, we’re working to create a greener Catalonia for today’s citizens and safeguard the future of our region for those who will live there tomorrow. The best way to secure this future is through environmental action. In fact, sustainability is more than just one of our business values; it’s part of our DNA.
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Green energy
100% of the energy used at our stations is renewable and, as of the 1st of January 2021, entirely generated by solar power.
We’re implementing alternative energy projects, such as the biomass facilities at La Molina and Vallter 2000 that provide heating and DHW to the adjacent buildings. These projects are an excellent example of how the circular economy works: we achieve carbon neutrality by taking advantage of forestry clearing to produce treated pellets or chips for the biomass facilities.
We’re also working to eliminate oil as an energy source in the buildings that make up the Vall de Núria complex by installing a geothermal energy system. This will reduce GHG emissions and improve the energy efficiency of the electric and DHW systems used in the buildings, as well as mitigating the risks involved in loading and unloading fossil fuel.
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Efficient snow management
We’ll produce more snow in less time by taking advantage of the more favourable “cold windows” that allow us to maximise the efficiency of our technologically advanced equipment, resulting in an overall cost reduction.
We’re also exploring molecular nanotechnology, which would increase the temperature range at which quality fabricated snow can be produced and thus expand coverage in more challenging areas.
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Preservation of the environment and promoting biodiversity
We’re committed to improving the habitats and species in the vicinity of our operations with actions that raise awareness of the importance of preserving flora and fauna. We work alongside the Natural Parks department at each of the resorts we operate in to develop, evolve and extend educational and awareness campaigns to boost biodiversity.
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Waste reduction and reuse
We campaign to raise awareness of the importance of waste reduction, recycling, and revaluation, incorporating the circular economy concept. In keeping with this commitment, we’ve implemented Zero Plastic and Zero Packaging initiatives at FGC Turisme stations to promote the use of biodegradable and/or compostable packaging and reduce plastic consumption.