- The first of the two self-consumption solar plants for the Consorci d'Aigües de Tarragona will provide about 18% of the energy consumed at its installations in Constantí
- In the first phase of the project, almost 2,000 solar modules have been installed at the CAT headquarters, covering an area of 9,200 m²
- It is a pioneering model for public sector collaboration where Endesa provides the total investment, construction, operation and maintenance for the infrastructure
The Tarragona Water Consortium (CAT), together with Endesa, will have the largest photovoltaic installation on water tanks in Spain's hydraulic sector. With an approximate area of five football pitches, the CAT will have a total of 8,569 solar modules generating an output of 4.7 MWp distributed between its central installations (in Tarragona) and the Drinking Water Treatment Plant (ETAP in Spanish) in L'Ampolla.
In April, they will launch the first of the two installations, located at the Consortium's headquarters in Constantí. 1,902 panels have already been installed, which will provide 17.7% of the energy consumed in this installation. Specifically, the almost 2,000 panels will generate 1,610 MWh of clean and renewable energy per year, a production equivalent to the average annual domestic consumption of about 340 homes. The energy produced in this first phase will prevent the emission of 400 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere per year, equivalent to the absorption capacity of more than 2,400 trees. The area covered by these panels, which extend over 9,200 m² over the water tanks, is equivalent in size to one and a half football pitches.
During the visit to the construction site at the Constantí installation, the chairman of the CAT, Joan Alginet, stated that "since 2022, 100% of the energy used by the Consortium has been green because the use and promotion of renewable energy is one of the strategic pillars of the CAT. The start-up of this first plant is proof of this, but we want to go further and over time increase the percentage of self-consumption. If these two installations provide approximately 10% of the energy we require, we have set ourselves the goal of reaching 15% of self-generated renewable energy by 2026."
A pioneering model for public-private collaboration in the sector
The Tarragona Water Consortium has been a pioneer in opening a project with these characteristics with a company specialising in energy services such as Endesa, which was awarded the contract following a public bidding process. Thanks to the financing model with which Endesa works, the CAT will not have to make any initial investment, so it will be the energy company that will assume the overall investment of 5.6 million euros for the installation of the two plants. In this type of contract which is a pioneer in the public water transport sector, a fixed price associated with the energy produced by the self-consumption installations is established and it is stipulated that Endesa will be responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the infrastructure during the 10-year duration of the contract.
In the words of Endesa's Director in Catalonia, Enric Brazís, "the model for collaboration offered by Endesa in self-sustaining projects is a very viable alternative for public entities to complete their decarbonisation process without incurring any additional financial burden and to be able to significantly reduce both their ecological footprint and energy consumption costs. For this reason, Endesa offers all its knowledge of the energy sector, the most cutting-edge technology and the support of a solid company".
All of the energy consumed by the CAT comes from renewable sources
To be able to provide the rest of the energy that the CAT needs to undertake its activities and continue supplying drinking water to more than sixty municipalities and twenty industries, the entity has entered into an agreement with Endesa Energía, the Endesa group's retailer. It is a contract with energy set at levels that allow it to remain competitive and reduce energy costs. Today, the Tarragona Water Consortium's annual consumption of 59 GWh is already 100% green energy from renewable sources.
The second phase of the project in L'Ampolla is underway
The commissioning of this installation of panels over a water tank marks the end of the first of the two phases of a project that will culminate in a second plant at the L'Ampolla Drinking Water Treatment Plant (ETAP in Spanish) that Endesa has already begun to install with the support of the SOLCAM company. The second and final phase of this project is expected to be operational during the last quarter of the year. When this has been fully executed, the CAT will be the water supplier with the largest photovoltaic installation on water tanks in all of Spain.
This project represents a major breakthrough in terms of renewable energy generation and at the same time exemplifies the power of circularity, as it ensures the reduction of the carbon footprint by eliminating the need to transport energy from distant sources, directly benefitting the environment. With initiatives like this, the CAT managed to reduce CO₂ emissions by almost 10% in 2023 compared with the previous year.
About Endesa
Endesa is a leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. It is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. It undertakes end-to-end business including the generation, distribution and retailing of electricity. It also offers electric mobility services, where it is one of the main operators of charging stations in Spain, and, through the Endesa X brand, value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy uses in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribución and Corporate Social Responsibility. The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,000 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.