Economic recovery through Endesa?s solar power projects

Indeed, to recover from the crisis, short-term financial stabilization and growth strategy measures are needed. In this context, the development of renewable energy sources can help reduce the commercial deficit of producing countries, promote an industry that can create thousands of jobs and reduce the everlasting dependency on fossil fuels for energy generation.

The Enel Group is already following this path by making investments and developing projects that propose and experiment advanced technologies.

In Barcelona, subsidiary Endesa opened a new facility that will hold the Smart City Barcelona project Control Centre, with investments worth 100 million euros, aimed at becoming an energy efficiency think tank.

The modular building consists of a light and portable transparent pavilion. Its 154 square metres are made of multi-layer structures and are covered by solar photovoltaic panels. Its average daily consumption is 20 kWh, while it is expected to generate 100 kWh of energy. This means that the 80% energy surplus can be grid-injected.

Also in Spain, Endesa will carry out a research project to demonstrate the technical and economic effectiveness of solar energy generation using the Stirling dish, a concentrating solar thermal dynamic cycle similar to the engine of a petrol-run vehicle. Within the Solardis concentrated solar power project, with investments worth 1.7 million euros, a demonstration concentrating solar power plant will be built near Endesa’s Guillena facility, in Spain, to test the commercial effectiveness of this technology.

The Mediterranean area is increasingly becoming crucial for energy supplies to Europe. In this context, the European Commission’s paper The EU Energy Policy: Engaging with Partners beyond Our Borders, recommends that further investments in infrastructure should be made to favour energy cooperation between North African and European countries. This trend appears particularly significant after a number of countries, including Germany, have decided to cancel their nuclear programmes following the Fukushima incident.

The Enel Group operates in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece, with investments aimed at developing new plants, research projects and technology advances, including its participation in the Desertec project, in North Africa.

www.endesa.com