From the heart of Sierra Morena: a journey to the Jándula hydroelectric power plant

I arrived in the hydro world just over 17 years ago. I started with enormous excitement to get to know it... excitement that has gradually grown. After a few initial years of experience at the Guadiana plants, in 2011 I arrived at the Córdoba Cluster where I came to manage some hydroelectric plants in Jaén, Jándula, and Encinarejo. After some time, during which I was able to develop in other areas, I returned to the Córdoba-Linares Cluster where everything had evolved towards greater efficiency, reorganisation of plants/zones, and a new coordination function. In a way, it was coming home.

Those of us working at these facilities today have inherited, with pride from several generations of colleagues, the love and care they have given to these facilities for many decades. A whole lifetime. And today we look to the future with enormous excitement to maintain and care for them for many years to come.

Nowadays, at the Jándula plant, we work alongside colleagues who have dedicated their entire lives to hydroelectric plants, like Alfonso and Paco, who were at the forefront of the transition from manual operation to automation at the start of the digital revolution; and many others who have taken up the mantle and have been linked to this plant since joining Endesa, such as Pepe and Alejandro, who leads the management of this plant today. It is a real source of pride to enjoy and share the day-to-day work with people with such enthusiasm for this job.

I have a special affection for this Jándula plant. Located in the heart of Sierra Morena, in the municipality of Andújar, Jaén, within the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park. At kilometre 321 of the A4 motorway from Madrid, you turn toward the mountains along the road leading to the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza—an iconic local pilgrimage site—via a winding route that grows more challenging with every climb. About 14 km in, we turn right looking for the plant via an even more winding route. The path is treacherous and there comes a moment when the asphalt surface disappears, and we take a dirt track. We still have 8 km left; this path already suggests that we are entering the heart of the Sierra. Fighting bulls and deer are commonly sighted, along with beautiful landscapes characteristic of these mountains. 

On the way to the plant, you reach an area with a wonderful panoramic view of the Sierra where it is striking to see the large number of people who come with the intention of spotting species such as the imperial eagle, the mouflon and, above all, the Iberian lynx, a protected species and the most beloved in these lands. A unique and solitary creature, elusive to most, it is far more familiar to those of us who work at these plants They are most active at dawn and dusk, which are the best times to catch a glimpse of them.

Passing this area of great beauty, with the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza in the background, we head down, already spotting the Jándula reservoir. In this last stretch, we pass in front of some ruins and some houses that are in good condition. This is the Jándula village. The remains left behind give a hint of its original scale, as well as the scale of the resources necessary for the construction of the dam in the 1920s. Some 3,000 people laboured here during the industrial era, at the onset of Spain's hydroelectric boom. 

As we reach the Jándula reservoir, we stop at the crest of the dam to take in the stunning surroundings and a profound sense of peace and harmony. Contemplating the work of the dam, anyone quickly realises its uniqueness and beauty. The site is recognised as both a natural and industrial heritage landmark of Andalusia. It was designed by Casto Fernández-Shaw Iturralde, who integrated the power plant building into the dam itself, providing a complex solution to the minimum space available at the construction site.

The design features a curvilinear silhouette with a smooth, spillway-like profile that follows the river's course—a masterful blend of engineering and architecture. Unlike most dams, it does not have spillway gates; instead, a spillway lip is added to the dam structure on its right bank, which diverts the overflowing water through a channel excavated in the mountain itself. This water is directed towards the mountainside on the right bank, falling down it naturally. When the dam overflows, the sight is breathtaking, with water cascading down the mountainside directly in front of the dam's base.

Having taken in the view, there is one final stretch to reach the plant: a footpath leading down to the base of the dam, covering a vertical drop of approximately 70 metres. This is just one more example of the plant's daily demands; only those who work here day in and day out truly understand the effort required to maintain and appreciate it. 

Once inside, you immediately sense how much it stands apart from other facilities. Arranged in a labyrinthine network across six levels, the complex layout adds another layer of difficulty to daily operations. The days are often long, but at sunset, you can witness moments of breathtaking natural beauty and spot some of the region's most remarkable wildlife—such as mountain goats scaling the dam wall itself from one abutment to the other. It is hard to imagine until you see them crossing without falling down an almost vertical wall. We even occasionally find them right at the entrance to the plant. We might even catch sight of an Iberian lynx near the dam or on the commute back.

At the end of each day, we head home after an intense shift. Amidst the daily routine, it can be easy to overlook the beauty that surrounds us. With the passage of time, however, we come to truly appreciate the efforts of those who work here; without a doubt, the plant’s complexities make it special to everyone who experiences it daily. For this reason, we maintain the same dedication that has driven us to care for this facility since the very beginning. We look toward the current energy transition with great motivation, certain that we serve as a strategic pillar for the future of electricity generation and the environment.

Luciano García Sánchez

Head of the Córdoba–Linares Hydroelectric Power Plants Group at Endesa