TotalEnergies has officially commenced construction on five photovoltaic (PV) plants in Guillena, Spain, marking a significant step in Spain's renewable energy sector. These projects, boasting a combined installed capacity of 263 megawatts (MW), are expected to annually prevent the emission of approximately 140,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
The groundbreaking event was graced by the presence of distinguished figures, including Jorge Paradela Gutiérrez, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines; Lorenzo Medina Moya, Mayor of Guillena; and Yago Mancebo Ferreiro, the General Director of TotalEnergies Renewables Spain.
The five solar plants, named Postigo (51MW), Arbotante (52MW), Pilastra (52MW), La Noria (53MW), and La Carrascosa (55MW), will collectively feature nearly 400,000 665Wp bifacial photovoltaic modules. Once operational, they are anticipated to generate sufficient electrical energy to cover the annual consumption needs of over 150,000 households.
Moreover, these PV installations have been declared of strategic importance by the Government of Andalusia, and their construction is set to create more than 800 direct and indirect jobs in the region over the next 12 months, according to TotalEnergies.
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In a significant move toward community engagement, TotalEnergies has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Guillena City Council to promote local employment and socioeconomic development, including the establishment of vocational training programs for the local workforce.
Yago Mancebo Ferreiro, General Director of TotalEnergies Renewables Spain, emphasized the company's dedication to advancing renewable energy in Spain. He stated, “Our company has made a firm commitment to promoting renewable energy in Spain, and the start of work on these projects in Guillena is a great step forward in achieving our objectives and those of the country.”
With a portfolio already boasting 3 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy under development in various regions across Spain, including Andalusia, Madrid, Murcia, Aragon, and Castilla La Mancha, TotalEnergies is actively contributing to Spain's role as a sustainability and clean energy leader in Europe.
Mayor Lorenzo Medina Moya underscored the significance of environmental conservation in his address, stating, “We are on land and in plots traditionally closely linked to the municipality and the people of Guillena. For this reason, and being aware of how important the landscape impact of these projects is for everyone, we wanted to express our commitment to society and the environment by signing a collaboration agreement with all the actors involved in this cluster.”
Jorge Paradela Gutiérrez, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, highlighted the economic benefits of such initiatives, stating, “Initiatives like this are generators of wealth and local employment as well as energizing our towns and regions. Furthermore, these five projects are fully aligned with the energy policy promoted by the Government of Andalusia in its commitment to renewable energies, not only to contribute to the decarbonization of the economy, but also to lower electricity costs and generate opportunities for economic development.”
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The ceremony also saw the participation of several institutional authorities, including Manuel Larrasa Rodríguez, Secretary General of Energy; Concepción Gallardo, Territorial Delegate of Sustainability; Antonio Ramirez, Territorial Delegate of Industry; Francisco Juárez, Territorial Delegate of Development; and Antonio Garrido Zambrano, Guillena's town planning councillor.
TotalEnergies emphasized its commitment to environmental preservation by launching a pioneering initiative in Europe, the Steppe Forward Chair, in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia (CTFC). This initiative aims to generate knowledge and specific application protocols to ensure that PV arrays respect the environment and biodiversity of their surroundings. Preliminary studies are being conducted to understand the local birdlife populations and habits, enabling the implementation of necessary compensatory measures prior to the construction of the sites.
