• The prize was given in recognition for almost forty years of work promoting a pioneering business model for renewable energies and his commitment to creating sustainable value.
• The chairman of Ecoener affirmed the role of the entrepreneur in a context of technological acceleration and geopolitical uncertainty and defended his company’s capacity for growth from Galicia thanks to a long-term vision.
La Coruña, 9 July 2026.- Luis de Valdivia, chairman of Ecoener, was awarded the Galician Businessman of the Year award, given by the Madrid Galician Entrepreneurs Association (AEGAMA) in recognition of a career spanning almost forty years, in which he has promoted a pioneering business model for renewable energies from Galicia and made a firm commitment to sustainable value creation.
The ceremony was held at the Isla de La Toja (Pontevedra) and was attended by more than 200 business persons and institutional representatives. During the event, the chairman of Ecoener affirmed the role of the entrepreneur in an environment marked by technological acceleration, geopolitical uncertainty and constant regulatory changes, while also underlining the need to maintain a long term vision without renouncing the ability to adapt. “In the renewable energy sector, we go through a technological disruption every six months”, Luis de Valdivia explained. He also stated that this process has enhanced the value of Ecoener’s track record of almost 38 years, and pointed out that “only ten percent of companies reach 30 years of age”.
Luis de Valdivia highlighted the company’s commitment to Galicia, where it has maintained its head offices and strategic decision-making centre, despite the difficulties of operating from this region during a major internationalisation process. “As you can imagine, the most natural thing for our company to do would be to go to Madrid, but we wanted to stay in Galicia because we love our region and wanted to contribute to its progress and development”.
At the same time, he pointed out some of the obstacles facing Galician companies, such as logistical difficulties and challenges in attracting talent.
Luis de Valdivia defended the fact that the company has kept to its own way of developing renewable projects since its inception, based on social and environmental integration, even when this has meant some reductions in profitability. “We’ve been doing this since we started out as a company in 1988, and back then no one talked about ecology, sustainability or renewable energy”, he added. This approach has been recognised internationally through awards such as the maximum climate score issued by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings and its presence amongst the energy companies with the best reputation in Spain, according to the Merco Empresas ranking.
Luis de Valdivia ended his speech by thanking the association for the award: “It’s wonderful to receive an award, but receiving one from your colleagues in the profession has even greater value”.
During the event, AEGAMA also gave the award for Galician Businessman of the Year Abroad to David Sánchez-Tembleque, managing partner of Alsis Funds.
About Ecoener
Ecoener is a Spanish multinational specialising in renewable energy. With 37 years of experience, Ecoener develops projects that seek perfect environmental and social integration, as well as a positive impact on communities. From the industrial point of view, it controls all the stages of the business cycle, from promotion and design to construction and management of hydroelectric power plants, wind farms and solar photovoltaic plants, as well as storage projects. It is present in 12 countries in Europe and America through its projects in operation and under construction and its business development offices.
About the AEGAMA Awards
The Galician Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (in Galicia and Abroad), organised by the Association of Galician Entrepreneurs in Madrid (AEGAMA) and held in La Toja, annually recognise Galician entrepreneurs and business leaders, both in Galicia and abroad, for their business excellence, commitment to society and ability to generate sustainable economic impact.
The awards form part of the International Meeting of Galician Entrepreneurs, one of the leading forums bringing together the Galician business community from Spain and abroad. They represent AEGAMA’s highest institutional recognition for business leaders with ties to Galicia, honouring their contribution to the region’s economic development, innovation and business profile.
The twelfth edition of the awards brought together more than 200 entrepreneurs, business leaders and institutional representatives yesterday on La Toja Island (Pontevedra), further consolidating the event as a key forum for strengthening ties between the Galician business community and the region’s leading economic stakeholders.