- Endesa's first solar apiary was installed in 2019 at the Las Corchas solar farm in Carmona (Seville). Since then, more apiaries have been set up in locations spread across Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon, Castile and León, and Galicia, integrating biodiversity with renewable energy generation.
- Endesa's 'Solar Honey' has now been registered as a trademark, generating an activity that provides added value to the beekeepers themselves.
Alberto Vergara in Cuenca, Casa Do Mel in A Coruña, Apicultura La Cerrada in Teruel, José Ramón Figueras in Badajoz, and the pioneering Loramiel in Seville are the beekeepers producing the first 'Solar Honey', as their hives are located beneath the solar panels of Endesa's renewable energy plants.
On World Bee Day, the work of these beekeepers at Endesa's solar farms is further proof that renewable energy and the primary sector can successfully coexist, whilst also helping to conserve biodiversity and boost local development.
A nationwide network of apiaries
The journey of Endesa's solar honey can be traced from south to north, following not only the geography but also the diversity of landscapes and beekeeping productions that coexist alongside its renewable energy plants.
In Seville, at the Las Corchas and Los Naranjos sites, the Loramiel project stands as a benchmark for this initiative. Spearheaded by Juan Ignacio, a fifth-generation beekeeper, the project is linked to the early recognition of beekeeping integrated into photovoltaic plants – a journey that began in 2019 and would, years later, give rise to the brand 'Solar Honey, Endesa energy'.
Further north, in Extremadura, within the Brovales cluster (Badajoz), the beekeeping tradition continues through José Ramón Figueiras. In this setting, linked to five solar farms, a dark, intensely flavoured holm oak honey is produced, rich in minerals and antioxidants, and closely tied to the dehesa (traditional wooded pastureland) landscape.
In the central-eastern area, in Cuenca, around the Minglanilla I and II plants, Alberto Vergara, another fifth-generation beekeeper, carries out his trade. In this landscape of Mediterranean scrubland and agricultural mosaics, monofloral rosemary honey is produced – one of the most representative types due to its profile and properties.
Continuing north to Teruel, the Sedeis photovoltaic plant – located on the grounds of the former Andorra thermal power station – hosts the production of monofloral thyme honey, characterised by its intense aroma and its digestive and antiseptic properties.
The journey culminates in the northwest, at the As Pontes Mining and Power Complex (A Coruña), where the Casa do Mel association operates on restored land. Here, different varieties are harvested, such as heather, chestnut, and blackberry honey, as well as oak honeydew, all linked to a regenerating landscape.
In addition to the solar apiary installations, Endesa collaborates with local beekeepers around its plants to promote local produce. Such is the case of Miel Agustín in Teba (Málaga), near the La Vega I and II photovoltaic plants, which yields a particularly diverse production linked to the Mediterranean landscape. Here, a family of beekeepers with over 30 years of experience produces monofloral honeys such as coriander – with an aromatic, spicy profile – and orange blossom, which is softer and floral. Both come from typical local crops and reflect the evolution of beekeeping in the area.
Similarly, on the Murcian plateau, where the Balbona photovoltaic plant is located, Pedro Chinchilla represents over forty years of beekeeping tradition with his family business, Los Panales de Chinchilla. There, raw rosemary honey is produced without being heated or filtered, preserving its properties, pollen content, and nutrients intact.
Energy transition with a positive impact
Endesa's network of solar apiaries demonstrates that the energy transition can create a positive impact beyond electricity production, contributing to the protection of pollinators —key for ecosystems and agriculture— and to the socio-economic development of rural areas.
Moreover, these projects promote collaboration with local beekeepers, generate new economic opportunities in the primary sector, and reinforce Endesa's commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the territory.
An experience that goes beyond energy
The initiative is complemented by educational activities such as honey tastings and awareness events, bringing the public closer to the value of biodiversity and highlighting the importance of bees in maintaining environmental balance.
Endesa's "Solar Honey" thus becomes a tangible symbol of how the energy of the future can coexist with nature and support the primary sector, generating shared value for the territory.
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. The company develops an integrated business of electricity generation, distribution, and commercialization, and offers value-added services focused on the electrification of energy use in homes, businesses, and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations SDGs and corporate social responsibility. In this area, it also acts through the Endesa Foundation. Our workforce totals around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.