The Scoope project has been promoted by the European Commission as part of the 2020 Horizon program to reduce energy consumption in companies in the food sector. In this case, it has contributed to the construction of one of the first photovoltaic solar energy facilities in Spain that is for 100% self-consumption. The facility has been developed by the livestock cooperative Grupo Cooperativo Pastores, which has already installed 288 kilowatts on the roof of its main premises, the lamb processing plant it has in Zaragoza.

In barely one and a half months eight solar invertors have been installed in one of the most powerful systems on the market, designed to produce up to 378 MWh per year. This will reduce the firm's carbon footprint by 226.40 tons of carbon dioxide per year (equivalent to the consumption of 100 homes) and a total of 5,000 tons over the next 25 years. The partners in the cooperative will also improve their profitability thanks to the savings of up to 15% produced in its electricity consumption, amounting to some 700,000 euros over the next 25 years.

Savings quadruple
This is only the first phase, covering 1,570 square meters on the roof of the building. The aim is to extend the installation over the coming years and quadruple the savings in polluting emissions.

The German renewable energy company BayWa r.e. is responsible for the facility, in what has been its first project of these characteristics in Spain. The works were carried out by its construction partner, SUD Energies Renovables.

"Because of the nature of our business, the environment and sustainability are inherent in everything we do," explains the financial director of Grupo Cooperativo Pastores, Ángel Tarancón. "BayWa r.e. has been key in helping us not only to achieve our goals in terms of renewable energy, but also to guide us in dealing with the demanding photovoltaic legislation in Spain and its legal framework."

The General Manager of BayWa r.e. España S.L.U., Claus Bünermann, comments: "We have the perfect capacity to back the Scoope project thanks to our global experience in renewable energies and the nearly 100 years of experience in the agricultural sector provided by our parent company."