- This new control centre and warehouse has geothermal and photovoltaic energy, an air recirculation system and excellent thermal insulation
- The building blends into the environment, both because it uses indigenous materials and because of its dimensions, all of which makes it a model for passive construction
Endesa has equipped the Leboreiro wind farm, located in Muras, near As Pontes, with a new control centre and warehouse that represents a milestone in sustainable construction. It is the result of the comprehensive refurbishment of an old building in accordance with the standards and certifications of passive construction. This is the first industrial building in Spain to be granted Passivhaus accreditation.
Passivhaus is an international standard that officially recognises buildings that deserve to be considered sustainable. This requires meeting a series of water-proofing, ventilation and material requirements established by the Passivhaus Intitut in Germany.
The previous control centre suffered from damp and leaks. The dimensions and construction materials used made it difficult for it to be integrated into the environment, so Enel Green Power Spain, Endesa's renewables division, decided to undertake an ambitious refurbishment that would not only resolve the shortcomings, but also constitute a model of good environmental practices.
The new installations, which required an investment of about 300,000 euros, include ventilated façades covered with indigenous slate on the sides most affected by inclement weather. The building uses geothermal energy, with a well 85 metres deep; there are also photovoltaic panels that contribute up to 9.4 kilowatts of power, as well as air recirculation, 140 square metres of underfloor heating, use of rainwater, as well as enclosures and carpentry with a high degree of insulation.
All these characteristics translate into a minimal carbon and environmental footprint and remarkable thermal comfort. This has even had a positive impact on the reliability of stored electronic spare parts, as the elimination of damp has reduced the number of breakdowns.
There is complete integration with the surrounding landscape as a result of the dimensions of the building and the use of indigenous materials, such as slate, on the walls of the façades. The work done to improve it is coherent given that this is a renewable energy installation located in an area of great environmental interest.
The Leboreiro wind farm has an installed capacity of 21.1 megawatts, generated by 32 660-kilowatt wind turbines. It was put into operation by Endesa's renewable subsidiary, Enel Green Power Spain, in early 2005.
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 Spain. 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 therefore strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel
Green Power Spain, the digitalisation of networks through e-distribución, and
Corporate Social Responsibility. The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, Europe’s largest electricity group.