– Aquila Clean Energy expands its presence in Andalusia, where it already has four solar PV plants in operation and another one under construction
– With an installed capacity of 50 MW, this new facility will produce more than 94 GWh of electricity and avoid 24,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually
– Aquila Clean Energy plans to invest €2 billion in more than 30 projects in Andalusia over the next five years
Madrid, 10 January 2023 Aquila Clean Energy, a company that develops, realises and operates clean energy assets with a focus on solar and wind, has announced the grid connection of a new 50 MW solar plant located in the province of Jaén. This facility will produce 94 GWh of electricity, which is enough power to supply more than 24,400 homes and avoid the release of 24,0001 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
The plant, which was completed in August, has now begun to feed clean energy into the electricity grid. This project generated more than 120 jobs during its construction phase, 30 of which were taken up by local workers.
Jorge de Miguel, Head of Development and Construction for Aquila Clean Energy in Spain, says: “With this new project, we are helping Andalusia to move closer to its goal of becoming a national power in renewable energies while implementing a more sustainable energy model based on the use of clean energy”.
Aquila Clean Energy has already 180 MW under operation and a further project under construction in Andalusia. It also has 30 projects under development in Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Cadiz, Granada, Jaén and Almeria. The company plans to invest a total of two billion euros in the region in the coming years, covering around 15% of the 20 GW in renewable capacity being targeted by Andalusia’s regional government.
“Andalusia is a key region for us,” adds Jorge de Miguel. “The regional government has strengthened its commitment to the deployment of renewable energy, and we aspire to become a strategic ally of the region as it moves towards achieving its decarbonisation objectives and capitalises on the emergence of new opportunities in this sector”.
With this latest installation, Aquila Clean Energy continues to deepen its commitment to Spain, where it already has a portfolio of more than 3 GW of solar and wind projects located in various autonomous communities.
Environmental integration
Thanks to the prior study of the local habitat and the application of various protection and conservation measures, Aquila Clean Energy has guaranteed the preservation of the natural environment surrounding this plant.
Specifically, the plant’s surroundings have been populated with native vegetation to resemble the landscape of the area and installed a fence adapted to the passage of animals. The installation has been designed in such a way that it can serve as a refuge for wildlife.
In addition, to protect birds, nesting boxes have been installed throughout the plant. This measure will be accompanied by a study that will gather information on the adaptation of bird species to the presence of the solar installations.
Aquila Clean Energy considers environmental integration and the improvement of biodiversity to be essential requirements in the development of all its projects.