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Aerial view of the Rocinante solar plant.
- The company is allocating over €2.5 million to the prevention, surveillance, and maintenance of its 59 photovoltaic facilities in Spain, with a special focus on Extremadura and Andalucía.
Faced with rising temperatures and intensifying heatwaves, Endesa reinforces its firefighting operations at its solar plants across Spain every summer.
Endesa's 59 operational solar plants, which have an installed capacity of 2.93 gigawatts (GW), activate a fire prevention campaign each year. This involves clearing vegetation and creating firebreaks, flying state-of-the-art drones to inspect facilities and detect hotspots, and increasing the fleet of specialised vehicles equipped with water tanks. From June to October, these vehicles are stationed at the solar plants to act immediately against any outbreak of fire inside or outside the facility.
These specialised vehicles, along with special water tanks set up at solar plants located in areas with the most intense heat – such as Andalucía, Extremadura, and Castilla-La Mancha – and specialist surveillance and firefighting personnel, are part of the targeted measures implemented by the company this year for fire prevention.
Sheep: our fire prevention allies
These special measures are joined by a unique ally: shepherds and their flocks. Endesa has shepherds at most of its solar plants, whose flocks carry out daily, vital vegetation-clearing work to keep plant growth under control, thereby preventing the spread of fires. In fact, their work has been crucial in preventing fires that started outside the facilities from spreading, thanks to this preventative role.
These shepherds work closely day-to-day with the solar plant technicians, which is why agreements are being signed with them to facilitate their access to the facilities. This guarantees the shepherds pesticide-free food and water for their sheep, while also providing them with a protected and guarded enclosure to ensure their safety.
Furthermore, the company conducts drills and training sessions with fire brigades in the areas where the heat is most intense, ensuring they know how a renewable energy facility operates and how to tackle a fire inside or outside the site.
All these measures have meant an investment by Endesa in 2026 of over €2.5 million, 75% more than the previous year. This effort takes the form of actions across its 59 photovoltaic plants in Spain, with a special focus on Extremadura, where the company has 22 solar plants, and Andalucía, where it has 13 plants.
The fire prevention plan involves not only preventive clearing with sheep – and mechanical means in required areas – but also includes activities planned and implemented over several months.
These works are supported by the advice of local companies that conduct flora studies, manage the environmental aspects of the facilities, and certify the prevention work carried out. These actions, coordinated with the authorities, ensure not only the correct execution of the work but also compliance with quality standards before the high-risk fire season arrives.
Technology and continuous surveillance
Innovation also plays a key role in the strategy. During this campaign, Endesa has incorporated the use of drones at plants such as Valdecaballeros in Extremadura to oversee maintenance work and detect potential incidents early.
Endesa is also exploring the application of AI at its renewable energy plants to prevent fires and safeguard people and facilities. In this regard, work is underway to design an advanced computer vision model capable of analysing security footage from cameras at the photovoltaic facilities to identify any anomalies before they affect people or property.
With this approach, Endesa reinforces its commitment to the safety of its facilities, environmental protection, and the development of sustainable solutions that help prevent fires in a context of growing exposure to climate risks.
About Endesa
Endesa is the leading 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 integrated business model spanning electricity generation, distribution, and supply. Furthermore, the company offers value-added services focused on the electrification of energy use for households, businesses, and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and corporate social responsibility. In this area, it also operates through the Endesa Foundation. Our team comprises around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.