Iberdrola España makes progress on the construction of one of its largest photovoltaic projects in Castilla y León

• The new 'Ciudad Rodrigo' plant, which is being built in the province of Salamanca and will have a capacity of 316 MW, will generate enough clean energy to supply 150,000 homes a year and prevent the emission of 75,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere a year.
• This solar installation is part of Iberdrola España's partnership with Norges Bank Investment Management.
• The construction of this renewable facility, with an investment of €200 M, will have a significant local component: up to 800 workers and numerous industrial suppliers are expected to be involved in the project at peak times.
• Small towns are becoming the guarantors of the future with numerous initiatives based on green principles that boost their economies and their population.

Iberdrola España is making progress on the construction of one of its largest photovoltaic projects in Castilla y León. The new 'Ciudad Rodrigo' plant, which is being built in the province of Salamanca – in the Valdecarros and Torralba mountains, just 5 km from the town – will have a capacity of 316 MW.

This solar facility, which is part of the partnership between the Iberdrola Group – of which Iberdrola España forms part – and Norges Bank Investment Management, will generate enough clean energy to supply 150,000 homes a year and will prevent the emission of 75,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere a year. In addition, this plant has reached a long-term purchase and sale agreement (PPA). 

The construction of this renewable plant, with 589,000 photovoltaic modules and an investment of €200 M, will have a significant local component. During peak work, up to 800 workers are expected to be hired by the project and contracts signed with numerous industrial suppliers from Salamanca, such as Tecinsa, which will build the transformer substation, the Pérez Coco cranes, and Maderas Caeval, which will clear brush. In addition, companies from the municipality itself will be involved, such as Solar B-Max, which will carry out the mechanical assembly, different concrete companies, such as Sánchez Cepa and Montero, Presan as a materials supplier and the machinery rental company Miróbriga.  

Iberdrola España works on numerous initiatives that combine the installation of renewable projects with the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems, caring for flora, fauna and our natural heritage. In this case, it will restore habitats that have been named of community interest.

In addition, a new pond will be located in the vicinity of the plant to complement the hydrological network that will be built around the installation, given the importance of the herpetofauna in the area, and 'insect hotels' will be set up in the landscaped areas between the photovoltaic panels and near the existing ponds to encourage the presence of pollinators and other groups of invertebrates in the area. As a complementary measure, nesting boxes will be put up for lesser kestrels and pits will be built around the project as a refuge for wild rabbits.

An agreement has been reached with the Ciudad Rodrigo Town Council to carry out the restoration of the Plaza Amayuelas. This project is planned to be executed in two phases: one for the northern half, towards the wall, and one for the southern half, towards the cathedral’s atrium.

The proposal for the reform and adaptation of the square in the Salamanca province town aims to reverse its current character as a residual and disused space by means of its spatial, functional and symbolic refurbishment. The aim is to reinsert it back into the collective memory by activating its role as a space for introducing the city, for interpreting its past and as a special point to come together.

Iberdrola España has also promoted, as part of the company's commitment to the province, the "Astróbriga" Solar System, which is a miniature solar system on a scale of 1/290,000,000. This is a tool for carrying out activities to promote the region as a tourist destination and develop educational and popular science activities in the area.

Iberdrola España's commitment to biodiversity

Iberdrola España is committed to a sustainable energy model in harmony with nature and people. This model is based on two main objectives: to achieve zero net emissions in all scopes by 2040 and to have a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2030, according to the Biodiversity Plan. 

Iberdrola España has recently published its Biodiversity Report, which sets out its strategy and its interventions over the last 2 years, totalling more than 1,800.

The company has also launched the Convive Programme, which includes a multitude of measures to ensure that renewable installations are fully compatible with biodiversity, agriculture, livestock farming and even beekeeping. For example, some photovoltaic installations have become true biodiversity refuges, which have even allowed endangered species to find a suitable place to live (e.g. free of pesticides and disturbances). 

In Castilla y León, in collaboration with the mushroom and fungi producer Fungi Natur, Iberdrola España launched the first project in Spain for mushroom cultivation in photovoltaic installations at the Revilla Vallejera plant in Burgos, Spain, which makes it possible to take advantage of the rural land and the shade of the panels to promote local jobs and farming, while saving water and improving crop quality.

In addition, 600 sheep graze daily within the enclosure of this facility, a clear example of the integration of renewables, nature and the local economy. "Solar grazing" benefits the livestock farmers, who gain new spaces for their activity; it is good for the plant, as it ensures the ecological maintenance of the land and reduces the risk of fires; and it benefits the animals who, in addition to access to food, find protection from the sun, rain and wind under the solar panels.

The Town Council of Revilla Vallejera has been one of the winners of the first Iberdrola Convive Awards. This municipality in the province of Burgos has been on the renewable energy map since 2016 and is an example of how small towns not only coexist with green energy, but also complement and benefit from it.

Iberdrola España's commitment to sustainability is increasingly visible and solid in Castilla y León, where the company is a leader in clean energy. The province of Palencia will host the 2nd Convive Awards ceremony in the coming weeks.