The solar power plants of Peñarrubia (Murcia) and Villarino (Salamanca), developed and operated by Iberdrolabecame the 45th project to receive the Seal of Excellence in Sustainability from the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).
This recognition highlights its integration into the environment and its respect for biodiversity and local communities. After a independent auditboth projects stood out for their good practices in sustainability and the circular economy.
After successfully passing an independent audit, UNEF ruled that the two Iberdrola projects are integrated in the territory where they are located, respect for the biodiversity Already citizenship.
Strengthening the photovoltaic sector
The label of excellence in sustainability was created by UNEF in 2020 to disseminate the good practices in the Spanish photovoltaic sectorreinforcing the commitment of the national photovoltaic sector to a sustainable energy transition.
The UNEF thus became the first entity to design, at the global level, its own system for sustainability certification of photovoltaic installationsintended for all companies likely to be interested in obtaining it, whether they are developers, construction companies or owners.
Harmonious coexistence
“As a sector, we have always imposed a commitment to doing things right, because we firmly believe that our future depends on harmonious coexistence. between our projects, the territory, its biodiversity and local communities“, underlined José Donoso, general director of the Spanish Photovoltaic Union.
“It is not only a question of producing clean energy, but of creating added value which contributes to sustainability and to well-being of the people and the environment in which we operate,” Donoso said.
Peñarrubia plant
The Peñarrubia photovoltaic plant, located in Yecla (Murcia), has the capacity to produce 86,700 MWh/year of energy. clean energyenough to power 25,000 homes and avoid the emission of 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
At the height of construction, the project generated 250 jobs, hiring several national companies, including Gonvarri, Omexon, Garoc, Mesa and Ingeteam.
In addition, this photovoltaic installation recognized by the UNEF contributed the first 50 MW to the strategic alliance of more than 2 billion euros between Iberdrola and the Norwegian sovereign wealth fundmanaged by Norges Bank Investment Management.
Habitat conservation
Among the environmental initiatives, conservation measures for the steppe habitat and local fauna stand out. Livestock and shelters were built to rabbits near the factory and an old workshop has been adapted as a primary kestrel to protect the lesser kestrel, a vulnerable species.
Furthermore, the landscape integration It was carried out through biological corridors with native vegetation that favors the movement of species that inhabit the area.
As part of its commitment to integration of photovoltaic projects with the environment in which they are developed, Iberdrola offered the Yecla Town Hall two self-consumption installations located on the roofs of the municipal swimming pool and the music school of the municipality, as an example of commitment acquired by the company after the launch of its first photovoltaic project in the region.
A Salamanca project
The FV Villarino project, located in Villarino de los Aires, Salamanca, has the capacity to produce 85,900 MWh/year of clean energywhich is equivalent to providing energy to 27,000 homes per year, thus avoiding the emission of 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
During peak construction periods, 250 jobs were created for local staff and this involved the hiring of several national companies such as JEMA, Gonvarri, Eiffage, Elecnor, Sarpel, Faramax, Mesa and Ingeteam.
During the construction of the project, various environmental measures were carried out, such as the creation of a plant screen around the solar power plant, installation of boxes for wildlife, the construction of fire lanes and four water reservoirs to support forest fire suppression teams and carry out silvicultural treatments and forest restocking.
