The water sector is entering a pivotal decade. Climate change, water stress, urban growth and regulatory pressures are reshaping the way water infrastructure is designed, financed and operated worldwide. For decades, water infrastructure has been viewed primarily as an engineering project. Today, however, the sector is evolving towards a more complex model, in which technology, digitalisation, energy efficiency and long-term management models are playing an increasingly decisive role.
In this evolving landscape, companies capable of integrating advanced engineering, technology and strategic insight are poised to lead the next phase of the sector’s development. At ACCIONA’s Water business, we have clearly defined our roadmap for this new growth phase: to grow selectively, and to consolidate our position as a leading technology partner in concession contracts and long-term projects. This approach has been reflected in a strong finish to 2025, reaffirming our solidity and strategic role within the group.
With contracting doubling compared to 2023 and 2024, the Water division has demonstrated a strong performance even in challenging environments
Recent contracts signed in Brazil, across the states of Pernambuco, Paraná and Espírito Santo, reflect this strategic focus on projects where advanced engineering, technological innovation and long-term operation maximise the value delivered to customers, communities and regions.
Our strategy is not a response to a specific situation, but rather a deeply held belief: the future of the water sector lies in combining engineering excellence, advanced technology and contractual models designed to optimise the entire life cycle of infrastructure.
High-value selective EPCs
For years, the market has been characterised by intense competition in traditional EPC projects, where price criteria have sometimes overshadowed technological differentiation. However, the new sector environment calls for a change in approach. At ACCIONA, we are committed to high-value-added selective EPCs, prioritising projects with a strong technological component and complex solutions that require specialised expertise.
At ACCIONA, we are committed to high-value-added selective EPCs, prioritising projects with a strong technological component
This strategy integrates advanced processes, digitalisation and operational optimisation from the early design stages, while also embracing hybrid models that incorporate operational or concession frameworks.
The aim is not to execute more projects, but to execute the right ones; those where our engineering capabilities, process knowledge and international experience provide a real competitive advantage. In doing so, we aim to capture greater added value, reduce exposure to non-strategic risks and strengthen our position as a global technology leader in the water sector.
The value lies in the entire asset cycle
Water is, by definition, an essential and foundational service. As such, concession models and long-term contracts provide the ideal framework for deploying sustainable solutions, optimising life-cycle costs and aligning the interests of operators and administrations.
Our strategy reinforces this growth line through:
- a stronger focus on concessions within our portfolio;
- active participation in project development and structuring;
- early integration of design, financing, construction and operation;
- a focus on operational efficiency and long-term energy optimisation.
Concession contracts allow us to leverage our expertise not just during the construction phase, but also across decades of operation. It is at this stage that technology, digitalisation and continuous optimisation make the real difference. These models also provide financial stability, revenue visibility and the ability to reinvest in innovation, which are key elements for sustaining growth in an increasingly demanding environment.
Technology and artificial intelligence
What defines the new phase of ACCIONA's Water division is our unwavering commitment to technology, not as an accessory, but as a core element of our business model. In treatment processes, we are advancing in desalination optimisation, improving energy efficiency in treatment plants, reducing energy consumption and recovering by-products
Every project must contribute to reducing emissions, using resources efficiently and improving the water resilience of the communities we serve
following circular economy principles. The goal is to maximise the technical performance of infrastructure while reducing both its environmental footprint and operating costs. The real qualitative leap comes with the integration of digitalisation and artificial intelligence throughout the value chain.
Some of the key applications we are incorporating include:
- predictive design based on historical data,
- digital twins that enable real-time operational optimisation,
- advanced control systems with machine learning,
- dynamic risk analysis tools tailored to long-term contracts.
An example of this technology in action is the digital twin of the Tseung Kwan O desalination plant in Hong Kong, and its application in the operation of the Bilbao sanitation network in Spain, where these tools simulate operational scenarios and optimise decision-making before applying them in real-world conditions.
Artificial intelligence applied throughout the water cycle helps reduce operating costs, improve infrastructure resilience and anticipates potential issues before they arise. This not only increases efficiency but also enhances service quality and environmental sustainability.
Engineering as the core of value creation
Engineering has always been at the heart of ACCIONA's Water business. In this new phase, we are not just maintaining it as our central focus; we are further strengthening it. Our goal is to deepen our technical specialisation in complex processes, promote the development of modular solutions and move towards intelligent standardisation that still adapts to local realities.
Projects like the desalination plants in Sicily and Australia's Eyre Peninsula reflect this commitment to modular, highly efficient models. At the same time, we are systematically incorporating a design approach that emphasises operation and maintenance. From the conceptual phase, each project integrates solid criteria for long-term optimisation, risk reduction and energy efficiency maximisation.
In today’s sector landscape, the true differentiator lies not only in building well, but in structuring projects more intelligently, designing them more efficiently, and operating them with excellence.
Development of high-added-value solutions
In concession contracts, especially those with a strong development component, offering innovative solutions is crucial.
Our strategy aims to integrate:
- renewable energy in water treatment facilities,
- advanced water reuse solutions to promote resource circularity,
- carbon footprint reduction systems in water infrastructure,
- infrastructure resilient to climate change,
- circular economy models in desalination and purification.
Our objective goes beyond meeting technical specifications; we seek to redefine industry standards. By combining international experience, technological capability, and a sustainable vision, we can deliver proposals that exceed minimum requirements and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve.
Growing where we can make a difference
Selective growth also involves geographical prioritisation. Our strategy focuses on regions where we already have an established presence, both within the water sector and across the ACCIONA group.
Concession contracts allow us to leverage our expertise not just during the construction phase, but also across decades of operation
This geographical consistency offers operational synergies with the broader ACCIONA group, deep regulatory insight, optimised support structures, strong relationships with local institutions, and an enhanced ability to offer integrated water and energy solutions.
The group's joint presence in certain markets enables us to deploy differentiated solutions, particularly in projects where the integration of water and renewable energy is key. Concentrating resources in strategic regions does not mean giving up our global vocation, but rather managing growth with discipline and focus.
A culture based on excellence and sustainability
No strategy can succeed without the right talent. That is why we are promoting an organisational culture based on five core principles: technical excellence, continuous innovation, risk management, social and environmental commitment, and a clear long-term vision.
At ACCIONA, sustainability is not just a reputational matter; it’s an operational and strategic necessity. Every project must contribute to reducing emissions, using resources efficiently and improving the water resilience of the communities we serve.
The great challenge of the 21st century
Water is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century; we are ready to meet it with engineering, technology and a forward-thinking vision
The water sector faces unprecedented structural challenges, but also extraordinary opportunities. The growing need for desalination, reuse, digitalisation and climate change adaptation offers vast potential for companies that can provide advanced technological solutions and robust contractual models.
At ACCIONA, we have decided to take the next step by being more selective, specialising further, innovating boldly, committing to concessionary and long-term contracts, and integrating digitalisation across the value chain.
Our aim is not to build the most infrastructure, but to generate the most value: for our customers, the communities we serve, our shareholders, and the planet. Water has emerged as one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, and we are ready to meet it with engineering, technology and a forward-thinking vision.
