The iconic Catalan Abbey of Montserrat has plans to become carbon-neutral

Bringing climate resilience to non-urban heritage sites

At the end of last week, the Montserrat Abbey in Catalonia announced that it has signed an agreement with water-supply company Agbar that will initiate an action plan to implement ecological transition measures at the religious entity. This action is promoted with a view to the upcoming millenary anniversary of the foundation of the monastery in 1025.

Agbar will develop an efficiency and sustainability plan aimed at comprehensive decarbonisation and increasing the water resilience of the Santa Maria Sanctuary site and achieving climate neutrality. The medieval monastery and the rocky mountain (also called Montserrat) where it is located, are iconic cultural symbols of Catalonia.

Responding to climate emergency in all walks of life

The agreement includes, among other actions: developing a plan for the efficient management of energy and water consumption with energy-saving and efficiency measures in exterior lighting and air conditioning. Another of the measures highlighted in the collaboration agreement is the analysis of the potential for the implementation of 100% renewable energy generation sources to supply the facilities, for electricity, vehicles or heat and cold networks.

The Abbot of Montserrat, Manel Gasch, appreciates the collaboration with Agbar, which has been going on for years: "(Our) millennium must not be just a celebration, but a look forward towards sustainability, which is a challenge that we all have to share – in recent months we are seeing that it is essential for the well-being of any society. And this project with Agbar goes in this direction: the natural use of resources”.

The functioning abbey and the eponymous mountain are popular tourist and pilgrim spots. Although the formal foundation year is 1025, the site had been inhabited by hermits since at least 880. It is possible to see almost all of Catalonia from the top of the Montserrat mountain on a clear day.