- Agrovoltaics is a blend of solar energy and agriculture. The main objective of this project is to use part of the land where our solar power plants are located for agricultural use, thus helping to preserve biodiversity and create shared value.
- Endesa, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power España, and Carob are collaborating in the creation of an experimental carob tree nursery, taking advantage of the partial shade conditions and wind protection provided by the photovoltaic panels of Endesa's solar power plants in the Balearic Islands.
- Today at Carob's headquarters, Gori Bibiloni, founding partner of Carob and Martí Ribas, general manager of Endesa in the Balearic Islands, signed the collaboration agreement that includes the creation of this experimental carob nursery at Endesa's solar parks in Mallorca.
Endesa, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power España, and Carob are collaborating on an agrivoltaic project that involves the creation of an experimental carob tree nursery, taking advantage of the partial shade conditions and wind protection offered by the photovoltaic panels of Endesa's solar plants in the Balearic Islands.
Today at Carob's headquarters, Gori Bibiloni, founding partner of Carob and Martí Ribas, general manager of Endesa in the Balearic Islands, signed the collaboration agreement that establishes the creation of this experimental carob nursery at Endesa's solar parks in Mallorca.
Agrovoltaics is a blend of solar energy and agriculture. At Endesa's solar power plants, different fruits, vegetables, tubers and aromatic plants, are able to coexist perfectly with photovoltaic plants. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to use part of the land where our solar power plants are located for agricultural use, thus helping to preserve biodiversity and create shared value.
One of the new activities proposed by Endesa in Mallorca is the creation of an experimental nursery at a photovoltaic installation.
Endesa – Carob collaboration. Study of the growth and evolution of carob grafts
The aim of this project, as part of which Endesa collaborates with Carob, a reference in the growth of carob in the Balearic Islands, is to compare the development of this nursery at a photovoltaic park with other traditional locations such as greenhouses, bearing in mind that solar panels act as solar protection for crops.
Thus, grafts will be made in plant pots, under the panels, to observe and compare the difference when planting grafted trees inside the greenhouse to when the trees are moved to open ground. Three types of grafts will be made, using the same variety of samples and the same type of scions.
To adapt the plant's land to agricultural activity, Endesa will install an automated drip irrigation system to provide water to 2,000 pots measuring 25 cm in diameter with an estimated consumption of 100 litres of water per day.
Currently, when there is a strong demand for carob in the industry, plantations outside nurseries could be created in a viable and safe way at solar plants, reducing production costs, increasing production capacity and reducing the time of entry into production of carob nurseries to one year.
Agrivoltaics at Endesa
Agrivoltaics was implemented for the first time in Totana (province of Murcia), with the aim of giving the land a double use and using it to full advantage. Therefore, at this plant, horticultural species like paprika, aloe and aromatic species such as sea fennel, thyme or rosemary, as well as other species, have already been grown, experimentally and in collaboration with scientific institutes.
Sharing and not competing for land use with the primary sector is the best mechanism to achieve sustainability at our solar plants in the long term. That is why this initiative, which is in line with the European Green Deal, is also being replicated at the plants in Carmona (Seville), Valdecaballeros and Augusto (Badajoz), Andorra (Teruel) and Mallorca.
Agrivoltaics in Sa Caseta (Llucmajor)
Applying Endesa's agrivoltaic criteria in Sa Caseta ensures the production of solar energy is compatible with the farm's agricultural and livestock farming.
Trees have been planted in such a way that makes it possible to dedicate land to agricultural use in Sa Caseta, which was until now classed as rustic dry land, reappraising and increasing the agricultural capacity by planting almond and carob trees.
Endesa selected this site, taking into account factors such as the existing previous ecosystem, traditional land use for each site, the type of soil, the availability of water resources, etc., all determined by climate conditions.
About Carob
Founded in 1970 with 100% Mallorcan capital and highly dedicated to local products. It manufactures locust bean gum, a natural additive that serves as a thickener and is extracted from the locust bean (carob seed). This is a product that contributes to the fact that carob is of great value. Carob is staunchly committed to the protection of the environment, which is reflected in this innovative carob nursery production project at Endesa's solar plants.
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. A new business line has also been created, Endesa X Way, fully dedicated to electric mobility. 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, the largest electricity group in Europe.