- The three new plants, Veracruz, Puerta Palmas and El Doblón, have meant an investment of 96 million euros and the creation of nearly 800 jobs, 80% of which are local labour.
- Endesa is processing new projects in the region, some 15 for a total of 1,150 new megawatts of renewable capacity in Extremadura.
Training courses in renewables, local employment, sustainable construction and renewable energy are the keys to the renewable projects that Endesa, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power España, has carried out in Extremadura. As a result of this work, today the company has opened three solar plants between the municipalities of Mérida and Almendralejo.
These are the Veracruz, Puerta Palmas and El Doblón plants, with an investment of 96 million euros and the direct work of about 800 people in the last year, in the greatest peaks of work this summer. Endesa's goal was precisely to recruit mostly local, qualified workers. To this end, it has carried out two training courses on assembly of trackers and operation and maintenance of solar plants for 152 people, in coordination with the municipalities of Mérida and Almendralejo: the aim was to create quality employment that would allow attendees to continue developing professionally in the growing renewable sector.
The target was achieved with about 80% of local labour hired for the construction phase. In addition, these solar plants have been developed following the principles of Sustainable Construction Sites, leading to the implementation of environmental impact mitigation measures during construction.
The municipalities and other stakeholders in the area are now going to receive defibrillators used during construction, the photovoltaic panels installed to cover part of the energy needs, and the tanks and rain collection systems used as water saving measures. To publicise the plant, Endesa will organise a guided tour at the beginning of the year with students from IES Emerita Augusta where a training cycle on Energy Efficiency and Solar Thermal Energy is taught.
Additionally, in order to help the communities on their road towards energy transition, a first-time partnership has been closed with a local company for the installation of self-consumption, under the CSV plan. In this case, the agreement was signed with Extremadura 2000 Servicios S.A. Also, we are waiting to close a contract with the City of Almendralejo for the improvement of energy efficiency in one of its sports centres.
The three new plants, which have come into operation today, have a capacity of approximately 50 MW each, and can supply the population of Mérida and Almendralejo for a year. Now that production has started, Endesa will begin to implement measures to safeguard the rich biodiversity in the area, for example, grazing to clear the land naturally, green screens and agrivoltaic and ecological corridors.
Before the end of the year, Endesa will also commission five other solar plants currently under construction in the province of Badajoz, between Fregenal de la Sierra and Bodonal de la Sierra. Endesa has invested 170 million euros in the plants, which will have a renewable capacity of 250 MW.
This new capacity is joined by 15 other solar projects that Endesa is processing in the province of Badajoz, for a total of 1,150 new megawatts of renewable capacity. Building this renewable capacity falls under Endesa's strategy to completely decarbonise its generation mix by 2040.
Endesa currently manages, through EGPE, more than 7,794 MW of renewable capacity installed in Spain, including: 4,745 MW of hydraulic power; 2,422 MW of wind power, 624 MW of solar power, and 3 MW from other renewable sources.
Enel Green Power, a part of the Enel Group is engaged in the development and operation of renewable energy production worldwide, with a presence in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. It is a leader in green energy and has installed capacity of almost 49 GW with a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. It is spearheading the integration of innovative technology into its renewable energy plants.
About Endesa
Endesa is the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. It is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end business from generation to marketing and through Endesa X also offers value-added services aimed at the decarbonisation of energy uses 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 España, the electrification of the economy and Corporate Social Responsibility. The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,600 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, Europe’s largest electricity group.