How BBVA supports enterprises in their energy transition: from expert advisory to financing

The energy transition is no longer a challenge exclusive to the energy sector—it has become a cross-cutting priority affecting the entire global economy. The need to reduce CO₂ emissions is pushing industries of all kinds—from manufacturing and transportation to agriculture and services—to transform their processes toward more sustainable models. In this context, BBVA is positioning itself as a key player in the energy transition, supporting clients with sustainable financing solutions and specialized advisory services tailored to today's challenges.

One of the leaders driving this momentum is Isidoro del Álamo, Head of Sustainability & Low Carbon Advisory at BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking. From his team, he leads the support provided to companies that are transforming their business models as part of a sustainable and resilient growth strategy. “Our role goes far beyond the financial. We help structure complex transactions, identify new business opportunities, and support companies in their strategic decision-making,” he explains.

This team was established in 2021 as a strategic initiative by BBVA to strengthen its specialized sustainability advisory capabilities, with a clear focus on energy transition and decarbonization. It is a global and sector-specific team designed to offer comprehensive guidance, from the early stages of strategy definition to the execution of specific projects.

Unlike other approaches that are more product-centric, the Sustainability & Low Carbon Advisory team is product-agnostic: it integrates the bank’s product capabilities—from capital structuring, whether equity or debt, to financing—and combines them with services that go beyond traditional banking. These include advisory on strategic partnerships, commercial agreements, off-balance-sheet structuring, regulatory support, and the development of new business areas for clients.

In addition, the team is composed of professionals with highly technical and specialized backgrounds, coming from strategic consulting firms, investment funds, investment banks, corporate finance firms, and the corporate sector. This cross-sector and technical expertise allows for a differentiated approach, offering solutions tailored to each industry and geography. The team is currently present in Madrid, London, Paris, Mexico, and the United States.

The team led by Del Álamo specializes in key technologies for the green transition, such as hydrogen and its derivatives (ammonia, synthetic fuels for aviation or maritime transport); biomethane; carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS); battery energy storage systems (BESS); geothermal energy; circular economy solutions—focused on recycling, packaging, and plastics; and natural capital, including biodiversity and water management, among others.

Clean technologies, green financing, and strategic collaboration

Del Álamo emphasizes that advancing clean technologies requires much more than financial resources. “It’s not just about offering capital, but about deeply understanding the sector, its cycles, and emerging technological opportunities,” he points out. That’s why BBVA goes beyond being a lender: it takes part in project structuring, advises on the formation of partnerships and commercial agreements, optimizes capital structures, facilitates access to different financing options, and designs solutions to manage transition-related risks.

"It’s not just about offering capital, but about deeply understanding the sector, its cycles, and emerging technological opportunities"

In recent years, the bank has been involved in pioneering projects related to green hydrogen, biomethane, and renewable energy, establishing itself as a strategic partner in the sector. BBVA has participated in the financing of the first carbon capture and storage projects in the United Kingdom—a key technology for achieving climate neutrality goals. More recently, it structured its first biomethane financing in Italy in partnership with Suma Capital, further solidifying its role as an expert partner in renewable energy beyond Spain.

A new horizon for sustainable finance

BBVA’s ambition is also reflected in its own commitments. The bank met its previous goal of channeling €300 billion in sustainable business between 2018 and 2025 a year ahead of schedule, in December 2024. Now, it has set a new target: to mobilize €700 billion between 2025 and 2029. “This goal reinforces our strategy of sustainability as a business opportunity and raises the ambition both in terms of volume and timeframe,” Del Álamo notes.

The timing is favorable: according to the International Energy Agency, the world must triple its renewable generation capacity this decade to meet the Paris Agreement goals. And Spain, with its natural resources and business landscape, could become one of Europe’s driving forces.

The future of energy Is already underway

For Isidoro del Álamo, the energy transition is a historic opportunity. “It’s not just an environmental challenge—it’s also a massive opportunity for industrial transformation, economic development, and job creation,” he says. His experience gives him a privileged view of what lies ahead: new technologies, new models of public-private collaboration, and a growing corporate awareness that places sustainability at the center.

Cases like the financing of sustainable assets in European markets—such as the recent biomethane project in Italy or carbon capture initiatives in the UK—demonstrate that the energy transition is a global effort, and BBVA has the expertise and specialization required to lead it.

With teams like the one led by Isidoro del Álamo, BBVA positions itself as a strategic partner for companies committed to a low-carbon future. Because the energy of tomorrow is being built today—and doing it right requires knowledge, ambition, and a long-term vision.