X1 Wind has been awarded as the Sustainable SME of the Year 2025 in Barcelona as part of the 9th edition of the “SME of the Year 2025” awards, jointly organized by Banco Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. The award ceremony took place on June 26 at Banco Santander’s headquarters.
The “SME of the Year” Awards recognize the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in generating employment and driving local economic development. In addition to the main SME of the Year award, four special mentions (accésits) are granted in the categories of Internationalization, Digitalization and Innovation, Training and Employment, and Sustainability.
The Sustainable SME 2025 accésit, awarded to X1 Wind, honors companies that embed sustainability into their business strategy, with an emphasis on initiatives such as promoting diversity, continuous training, environmental responsibility, strong ethical governance, and active community engagement.
As the winner of this award in Barcelona, X1 Wind will now compete for the National Sustainable SME of the Year 2025 award, to be announced in the first quarter of 2026. The other regional winners in each category will also be eligible for the corresponding national awards.
X1 Wind places environmental sustainability at the core of its technology. Its innovative floating wind platform, the PivotBuoy, features a tension-leg platform (TLP) mooring system that significantly reduces seabed impact and occupies up to 55 times less surface than traditional catenary mooring systems, enabling coexistence with other marine activities such as fishing. Additionally, its lightweight structure requires less steel and is designed to be towed by small or medium-sized local vessels, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.
This environmental commitment extends to its day-to-day operations. At its offices in Barcelona and Tafalla, the company has implemented a carbon footprint reduction plan focused on sustainable procurement and responsible travel. At project level, X1 Wind applies the GHG Protocol and has developed an Environmental Emergency Plan. In parallel, it fosters an inclusive work environment through active policies on gender equality, work-life balance, and professional development, with a culturally and generationally diverse team.
True to its Code of Ethics, X1 Wind also strengthens its social impact by collaborating with organizations such as the CRAM Foundation and L’Economat Social, while prioritizing suppliers aligned with its social and environmental values. In 2025, the company expanded its CSR strategy to explore new volunteering opportunities and further deepen its engagement with the community.
Carlos Casanovas, CTO and co-founder of X1 Wind, accepted the award and shared his appreciation:
“We would like to thank Banco Santander, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, La Vanguardia, and the jury for this recognition. This award is a strong endorsement of the collective effort we’ve made to build a more responsible, diverse, and community-driven company. X1 Wind was founded with sustainability at its core, and we work every day to ensure that commitment is reflected not only in what we develop but in how we operate, grow, and contribute to society. We will continue working with the same conviction to create a positive impact in everything we do.”
