The three new photovoltaic plants have a combined capacity of 150 MW and have required an investment of 70 million euros. Their estimated production will be 315 GWh/year, which will represent 46% of Naturgy’s current annual production in Extremadura, avoiding the emission of more than 150,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Naturgy has commissioned three new photovoltaic plants in Extremadura with a combined capacity of 150 MW and the capacity to supply renewable energy to more than 94,000 homes. These are El Encinar I, Los Naipes and Los Naipes II, all three located in the municipality of Badajoz.
These facilities, which have involved a global investment of 70 million euros, have an individual capacity of 50 MW and will generate a total of 315 GWh/year. This production will mean the reduction of more than 150,000 tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions per year.
The three new plants have generated more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, and allow Naturgy to reach 292 MW of operating power in Extremadura, representing 46% of the company’s annual production in the region. With its entry into operation, Naturgy expects to reach a production of 670 GWh in the region by 2025, a figure equivalent to the consumption of more than 200,000 homes.
The El Encinar I, Los Naipes and Los Naipes II plants have required significant coordination and collaboration work with three other developers in the area, which together develop 16 photovoltaic plants. Naturgy shares evacuation infrastructures with them at the San Serván node, which has required coordinated management for almost five years with the close collaboration of the Regional Government of Extremadura.
The collaboration between the different developers has also allowed the launch of a pioneering research project, with the collaboration of the University of Extremadura and under the auspices of the Regional Government of Extremadura, which aims to carry out a common environmental monitoring and surveillance plan, in order to evaluate how photovoltaic activity influences the land and the biodiversity of the environment. The ultimate goal is to promote sustainable development that makes economic development compatible with the preservation of flora, fauna and soil.
The head of Renewable Projects in Spain at Naturgy, Juan Ferrero, highlights the boost that these three new plants represent for “the development of renewable energies in Extremadura”, highlighting “our company’s commitment to the sustainable development of the region”.
Naturgy’s commitment to Extremadura
Extremadura is a region of high strategic value for Naturgy. In addition to the three new photovoltaic plants in Badajoz, there are 142 MW of installed power through the Merengue and Merengue II wind farms and the Puerta del Jerte and Miraflores photovoltaic plants. The company is currently working on the construction of the Campo de Arañuelo photovoltaic plant, with 300 MW of power and an estimated production of 514 GWh per year, and the Las Jaras de Badajoz photovoltaic plant, between La Albuera and Badajoz, with 59 MW of power.
The overall figures for all these projects (9 in total) imply a power of 651 MW and an investment by the company of more than 350 million euros, in addition to the corresponding associated evacuation infrastructure shared with other developers. To these we must add other projects in the community, in the process of analysis and administrative processing for future development and construction.
