Memory of a legacy. Safe pillar for the present
Imagen de la chimenea junto a la central. Imagen de la chimenea junto a la central.
Image of the chimney next to the power station.

The sun is shining high in the sky, lighting up my wonderful home called Andorra, in the province of Teruel. The day is warm and bright, the kind of day when the air seems full of life and the sun looks like a really old friend. But for this old lady, this day has a special meaning. It is a day to say farewell.

I am old now, with deep wrinkles that run through a body dedicated to the service of coal. I have enjoyed a lifetime in this small but great Andorra and I have seen how its people and streets have changed over the years.

In the left and middle images we can see the chimney min the background, and on the right the chimney appears next to the power station.

For decades, coal and the thermal power plant were the main source of life for the people living in this region. But now, with the arrival of new renewable energy projects, the town is already facing new challenges in which I hope to be remembered with the nostalgia and affection that correspond to an old friend.

Today my gaze is slowly lost in the streets, where I stop to greet friends and remember the old times. There are memories on every corner, every door and window and it all makes me feel very nostalgic. I regret not being able to be part of a present and a hopeful future that will bring new life to the region. Time does not forgive and like everything in life, everyone has their time, and mine is over. But in spite of the sadness I feel, my heart is full of hope.

General image in which we can see the chimney at the Endesa power station in Andorra, Teruel. General image in which we can see the chimney at the Endesa power station in Andorra, Teruel.
General image in which we can see the chimney at the Endesa power station in Andorra, Teruel.

I will leave a legacy of work, commitment and effort that I see embodied in the new projects that are already a reality in this region. From a time when we were dominated by great hills of black coal, we now have plains that are full of renewable energy which is providing Andorra's new generations with new challenges.

Today I can take one last look at what has been a lifelong partner, the thermal power plant. Here, at the heart of the steel and brick structure, I look up at the sky. I can see in the distance the expanse of the plains of Aragón and I feel the gentle breeze that blows and intoxicates me with a sweet, ancient aroma.
Image of the moment of blasting.
Image of the smoke screen created by the debris from the chimney. Image of the smoke screen created by the debris from the chimney.
Image of the smoke screen created by the debris from the chimney.

The sun is shining brightly over the endless plain and the winds whisper ancient stories among the dry pastures. Time seems to stand still and my spirit finds peace and inspiration from knowing that the future is already walking through these endless plains in my beloved Andorra.

There are no tears in my eyes as I proudly say goodbye to my land, with the certainty that my legacy is an essential part of the present and a safe pillar on which a future full of opportunities and challenges is written.

Image of the smoke screen created by the debris from the chimney together with an operator. Image of the smoke screen created by the debris from the chimney together with an operator.
Image of the smoke screen created by the debris from the chimney together with an operator.

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The legacy we will leave

 

The legacy we will leave is a reflection of fair energy transition in Spain seen through those playing a leading role.

This is a project sponsored by Endesa and created and promoted by the documentary photographer Álvaro Ybarra Zavala. Álvaro is a witness to our process of change and tells stories about those playing a leading role in this change through his photographs.