Endesa, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power España, has chosen Castilla la Mancha as the site for new renewable projects that will generate more than 1,700 jobs during the construction phase. The project includes five solar and three wind plants, with a capacity of 497 MW in total when they are in operation at the end of this year.
Endesa has located the renewable facilities in the provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real, taking into account the institutions, rural organisations, associations and the general population of the municipalities in which they are being built. When complete, they will generate 1,230 GWh per year to the network, which is equivalent to the combined annual energy consumption of Albacete and Cuenca.
The company's commitment to generate value in the area includes organising training courses in renewable energy to promote the creation of quality jobs in the area and open up future employment prospects in the fast-growing sector of renewable energy. In total, 8 training courses linked to the facilities will be given in partnership with the local councils. The courses will be divided into two specialties, related to the progress made with the renewable plants. Before the construction phase of the photovoltaic plants, the training will deal with assembly of the panels; and as production draws near, the course will focus on the operation and maintenance of the facilities. Overall, training will be provided for more than 400 people, with priority being given to those at risk of social exclusion, the unemployed and women.
Of the new renewable energy works planned for Castilla la Mancha, those currently at the most advanced stage are the Campillo I, II and III wind farms, whose construction began early this year. These renewable energy facilities located in the municipalities of Campillo de Altobuey, Enguídanos, Puebla del Salvador, Castillejo de Iniesta, Iniesta and Minglanilla, will become the company's largest wind farm in Spain, with a production capacity of 259 MW.
This renewable plant will include a new substation to be built by 8 local developers, generating a further synergy with the local economy.
These projects already underway, and construction will begin imminently on two more plants in Puertollano (Ciudad Real), Encina al Sol and Estrella Solar, which total 71.5 MW. A third solar project will be added in 2023, the 117 MW Rocinante, and the preparation of a new solar plant in Manzanares with a capacity of 120 MW.
The construction of all these projects is based on Enel Green Power's "Sustainable Construction Site" model, including the installation of photovoltaic solar panels to meet some of the energy needs during construction work and measures to save water by installing tanks and rain collection systems. Once construction is complete, both these photovoltaic panels and the water saving equipment, as well as the defibrillation equipment located on site, will be donated to the local municipalities for public use.
Endesa is also working with local organisations on the construction of these facilities, thus creating another way in which everyone can become part of the renewable future.
In Spain, Endesa is currently constructing new renewable solar and wind capacity in Aragon and solar projects in Extremadura and Andalusia, while preparing the initial stages of new renewable capacity in a number of provinces.
The aim of all this renewable development is to fulfil Endesa's commitment to bring forward to 2040 the date of its conversion to a fully decarbonised company, through the development of renewable energies and the commitment to the electrification of energy consumption. In 2021, the company invested 610 million euros in the construction of new renewable plants and commissioned 626 MW capacity of new renewable power.
Through EGPE, Endesa currently manages 8,389 MW of installed renewable capacity in Spain, including: 4,672 MW of conventional hydraulic power; 2,546 MW of wind power, 1,097 MW of solar power, and 75 MW of mini-hydraulic power.
About Endesa
Endesa is the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage 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-distribution and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR-related matters. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, Europe’s largest electricity group.