PortAventura World has inaugurated Portaventura Solar, the largest photovoltaic plant in a holiday resort in Spain

• The company is continuing to consolidate its commitments with regard to environmental issues with the construction of one of the largest solar panel installations for self-consumption in Europe and which required an investment of €6 million.
• The plant was designed and built by Endesa X and consists of more than 11,000 panels that occupy an area equivalent to about nine football pitches. It will generate 10GWh/year, equivalent to a third of the energy that the resort needs to be able to operate
• The design and planning of the new plant gave priority to integration within the landscape with a view to preserving the environment and minimising the visual impact
• The project includes a second phase that is already under construction and which will generate an additional 5.6GWh per year. It will include the implementation of an environmental education and scientific dissemination facility.
• PortAventura World, a B Corp company as a result of compliance with the highest standards with regard to environmental, social and good governance performance, is managing a resort that is neutral in direct emissions and 'zero waste', in line with its ESG strategy
• PortAventura World's decarbonisation strategy is complemented by a 100% renewable energy contract and one of the largest electric car charging hubs in a European resort, all with Endesa as an energy partner.

PortAventura World today inaugurated PortAventura Solar, the largest self-consumption photovoltaic plant in a holiday resort in Spain and one of the largest with these characteristics in Europe. This will enable the company to go one step further in its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and promote the use of renewable energies with the support of Endesa, its energy partner.

The solar project, with the support of Endesa X, Endesa's energy services subsidiary, included the installation of 11,102 solar panels located on the ground which occupy a total area of 6.4 hectares within the resort, equivalent to 9 football pitches, and which will generate a third of the energy that the park needs to operate. This is the first solar plant of its kind approved in Catalonia and the first to be opened.

The opening ceremony was attended by Arturo Más-Sardá, Chairman of PortAventura World, and José Bogas, Chief Executive Officer of Endesa, together with other managers of both companies and institutional representatives.

Arturo Más-Sardá, Chairman of PortAventura World, said that "the inauguration of PortAventura Solar is one of our company's great milestones with regard to its ESG strategy, in which we are working constantly and which we consider to be an absolute priority. Building the largest solar plant in a resort in Spain, and one of the largest of its kind in Europe, represents quite a success, both for us and for the sector, as it demonstrates that tourism can and should also be responsible with regard to the planet. It involves continuing to have a positive impact on the environment and acting as a lever for change in the business sector, in accordance with our commitment as a B Corp company."

José Bogas, Chief Executive Officer of Endesa, explained that "the relationship between PortAventura World and Endesa began with the signing of an extensive supply agreement with which we became their partner with regard to sustainable energy.  This alliance was the start of a series of wide-ranging actions that culminated in the construction of a photovoltaic solar plant, a hub of charging stations and a number of two-directional collaboration commitments. The photovoltaic solar plant that we inaugurated today is another example of our firm commitment to self-consumption technology which involves both promoting these installations for customers and giving installations access to our distribution network".

Choni Fernández, Sustainability Manager at PortAventura World, explained that "for over 28 years, we have been actively engaged in complying with a series of social, environmental and economic commitments that have been beneficial to all stakeholders related to our resort. This plant responds to the Energy Transition axis in the company's 2022-2025 Strategic Sustainability Plan. A plan that is an essential feature of the management model, guided by our purpose and corporate values."

Self-consumption and lower emissions

PortAventura Solar, with a power of 6.05 peak megawatts (MWp), will generate 10GWh/year of clean electricity, which is equivalent to consumption by 3,000 families. This will cover almost a third of the resort's energy requirements, reducing its environmental impact and contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations which include the promotion of energy efficiency within organisations. The installation will prevent the annual emission into the atmosphere of 4,000 tons of CO2 per year.

The project was developed in compliance with a very demanding strategy for integration into and impact on the landscape, with the aim of reducing its visual effect and preserving the environment. Firstly, both an Iberian site and a Roman site that were discovered in the area during the building works have been protected and secondly, a vegetal screen was installed by planting trees which restrict the visibility of the panels from the outside. The dry stone walls around the terraces that make up the area were also respected. This is a very old construction system that is frequently found in rural areas of Catalonia. An element of ethnological interest has also been preserved within the grounds: A dry stone hut, a clear example of the type of hut built by country people using the dry stone technique.

To be able to connect the solar photovoltaic plant with the park's existing electrical infrastructure, an underground medium-voltage line of 25 kilovolts (kV) was built and 6 MW transformers installed to transform the direct current into alternating current and raise the voltage to 25 kV.

The second phase of construction, already underway, will have a capacity of 3.1 peak megawatts (MWp) and will add a further 5.6GWh per year. The installation of the plant involved a total investment of more than €8 million.

In September, a lookout point and an environmental education facility will also be inaugurated. This will consist of a number of games and elements that will be simple and entertaining and show how renewable electricity is generated (solar, wind, kinetic, etc.) This area will be set up to enable visits by schoolchildren and there will be other educational and environmental dissemination activities, including an "insect hotel".