Enel Green Power starts construction of 127 MW of new solar capacity in Spain

Enel Green Power starts construction of 127 MW of new solar capacity in Spain

The three photovoltaic (PV) plants, Baylio, Dehesa de los Guadalupes and Furatena, will involve a total investment of approximately 100 million euros and will each have an installed capacity of over 42 MW.

“The start of construction of our first solar parks in Extremadura represents an important milestone for our Group and the country itself as we continue to expand our PV footprint into new areas of the important Spanish market while helping the country to achieve its renewable goals,” said Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel’s Global Renewable Energy business line, Enel Green Power (“EGP”). “These projects are the latest examples of our commitment to further diversify the Spanish generation mix by leveraging on the wealth of solar resources in the region, where we are also determined to bring our global technological expertise, and initiatives aimed at boosting the sustainability of our construction site.”

The three solar plants, which will be comprised of around 372,000 PV modules, are slated to enter into service by the end of 2019. Once fully operational, they will be able to generate more than 240 GWh annually, avoiding the emission of around 120,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The three projects will be based on Enel Green Power's “Sustainable Construction Site” model, which includes the use of a 20 kW photovoltaic system at each site, to meet their energy needs during construction, as well as other initiatives aimed at involving the local population in the construction phase.  

EGPE will utilise several innovative construction processes and equipment on the three sites, including drones for topographical survey, smart tracking of certain components such as solar panels, main transformers and cables, as well as advanced digital platforms and software solutions to oversee the progress and quality of construction and remotely support site activities and plant commissioning. These practices and tools will enable faster, more accurate and reliable data collection, enhancing construction quality and facilitating communication between on-site and off-site teams.

The three facilities are part of the seven PV projects for a total capacity of 339 MW that were awarded to EGPE following the July 2017 renewable tender. The remaining projects include one located in Murcia, Totana, for which construction started in September, and three others in Extremadura, in the municipalities of Talarrubias and Casas de Don Pedro, province of Badajoz. In addition, following the country’s May 2017 renewable tender, the company was awarded wind projects for an installed capacity of 540 MW. The overall 879 MW of wind and solar awarded in these last two tenders will involve a total investment of over 800 million euros by 2020, and will increase EGPE's current portfolio by 52.4%.