Naturgy Launches 150 MWp Solar Projects in Spain

Spanish utility Naturgy Energy Group SA has started constructing three solar farms with a combined capacity of 150 MWp in Spain’s Castile-La Mancha region, two of them near its decommissioned nuclear power plant.

The group said that it is investing more than EUR 76 million (USD 81.6m) in the trio, expecting to create over 1,000 jobs during construction and operation phases.

The funds will bankroll the projects Zorita I and Zorita II totalling 100 MWp and set in the vicinity of the former Jose Cabrera nuclear power plant in Guadalajara province. The municipality of Ocana in Toledo province will host the 50-MWp Ocana solar farm.

Naturgy says the new solar farms will generate around 310 GWh of electricity per year, or enough to meet the annual power consumption needs of 86,000 homes.

The company operates more than 1,150 MW of renewable energy capacity in Castile-La Mancha, distributed between 12 wind farms, seven solar farms, nine hydroelectric plants and one mini-hydro power station.

Naturgy’s next group of projects will add 1,000 of new clean generation capacity primarily through hybridisation of battery energy storage with solar, wind and hydro. These projects, and there are 20 of them, are currently in various stages of permitting, Naturgy added.