On December 1, 2025, HEINEKEN Spain completed the transition of all four of its breweries, in Seville, Madrid, Valencia and Jaén, to renewable electricity and thermal energy. The company says its Spanish operations support 1,400 direct jobs and an estimated 85,000 indirect and induced positions, a key stage for the country’s beverage sector.
In its 2025 sustainability report, released in 2026, the company presents HEINEKEN as the first major brewer in Spain to produce its full range of beers and ciders, as well as summer reds, using renewable energy. HEINEKEN says EY assessed the environmental claim under ISO 14021, the standard for self-declared environmental claims, while AENOR checked non-financial data. The reviews have different roles: ISO 14021 provides a structure for environmental declarations, not government approval or regulatory certification.
From Biogas to Biomethane
The transition unfolded in stages to address electricity use and the heat required for brewing. HEINEKEN began capturing biogas from wastewater-treatment operations in 2007. From 2020, the El Andévalo solar facility in Huelva supplied renewable electricity. The company added a biomass boiler at Jaén in 2021. An industrial solar-thermal installation followed at Seville in 2023, then Fresnel solar technology at Valencia in 2024. In 2025, biomethane replaced fossil-based industrial gas, completing the shift.
Electricity and process heat serve different functions in a brewery. Heat produces industrial steam for brewing, cleaning and sterilisation; renewable electricity alone does not meet that demand. HEINEKEN says solar thermal and biomass, along with biomethane, now provide the thermal energy its breweries need, completing the transition by the end of 2025. The shift echoes agricultural new idea elsewhere in Spain, including the rapid expansion of pistachio farming in Castilla-La Mancha, covered in this recent report.
Water and Waste: Beyond Energy
HEINEKEN’s sustainability efforts extend beyond energy. The company says it returned 2.9 billion litres of water to river basins near its breweries in 2025 through projects in Doñana and the Albufera of Valencia, as well as the Jarama basin. The volume nearly doubles the water contained in its beverages and exceeds its corporate target of 1.5 billion litres. Water use per litre of beer fell to 2.68 litres in 2024, a 45% reduction since 2008.
All four breweries hold Zero Waste to Landfill certification. HEINEKEN reports that it recovers 98.7% of industrial waste, reuses all by-products in other industries and uses reusable packaging for 86% of hospitality sales. Spent barley, for example, is repurposed elsewhere in the agri-food sector.
New idea and New Products
The energy transition coincides with a period of product new idea. HEINEKEN Spain invested €5 million in new idea over the past three years and has launched more than 60 new products in 15 years, including seven in 2026 alone. Its focus includes alcohol-free options and new flavours, alongside premium segments. All four strategic brands, Heineken, Amstel, Cruzcampo and El Águila, offer 0.0 alternatives. Recent additions include Cruzcampo Tostada 0,0 and Ladrón de Manzanas 0,0, as well as El Águila Sin Filtrar Limón and Cruzcampo 1904. NielsenIQ data cited by the company show that the premium lager category grew by 4.4% in value and 5.2% in volume in Spanish households, with growth among under-35s nearing 13%.
Employment and Social Impact
HEINEKEN’s employment figures use different measures of its Spanish operations. The company website lists 1,400 direct employees and 85,000 indirect and induced jobs. Its 2025 report gives a direct-employment figure of 2,043 when in-house distribution is included. The broader estimate covers suppliers and agriculture, as well as logistics, distribution and hospitality. In November 2025, Talent24h reported job openings at the Seville and Jaén breweries as part of a recruitment lead.
Women hold 44% of management roles, and all team leaders have received training in inclusive practices. The company also reports regular pay-equity reviews and 2,015 hours of safety training. It sources 88% of its raw materials locally. Fundación Cruzcampo supports youth training and professional development in hospitality.
The full 2025 sustainability report is available on the HEINEKEN España website.
