BayWa r.e. Launches Agricultural Activities at Alhendín Solar Park in Granada, Spain

BayWa r.e. has successfully commenced agricultural activities at its Alhendín solar park in Granada, Spain. This 54 MWp project, developed in partnership with the VELUX Group through a groundbreaking Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), integrates clean energy production, agriculture, and biodiversity preservation.

The park began delivering electricity to the local grid in May 2023 and marks BayWa r.e.'s first Agri-PV installation in Spain.

Energy and Sustainability Milestones

Alhendín features over 85,000 solar panels, utilizing fixed, tracking, and Agri-PV technologies to produce 96.8 GWh annually, equivalent to powering 24,700 households. The project has enabled VELUX to achieve its 100% renewable electricity target, advancing its 2030 sustainability goals.

Agri-PV and Biodiversity Initiatives

Approximately 10% of the site is optimized for agricultural use, allowing machinery to operate between solar rows. Local farmers will cultivate chemical-free hay, harvested each spring, while fodder crops, wildflowers, and grasses have been sown to support pollinators and landscape integration.

Biodiversity measures include the installation of:

• Nesting infrastructure for the lesser kestrel

• Wildlife refuges, rainwater ponds, and drinking tanks

• Camera traps for mammal monitoring and listening points for bird observation

Future initiatives will include sheep grazing, kestrel chick releases, and ongoing environmental monitoring through mid-2025.

BayWa r.e. has implemented outreach programs, including school field trips, community information sessions, and educational talks at local schools in Alhendín and La Malahá.