After 20 years’ in the country, the renewable energy company Axpo has again chosen Spain to build its largest solar power plants, with 200 megawatts of installed capacity. Construction will start in September this year, with commissioning scheduled for the end of 2024.

The Swiss company aims to have ten gigawatts of installed solar capacity in Europe by 2030. To achieve this, it is focussing on countries where it has the longest track record and experience. Although far from its home country, going forward, the company’s new plants will contribute to its electricity import needs in the winter months.

Job creation
The project  announced will be built in the municipalities of Villadangos del Páramo and Cimanes del Tejar, in the province of Leon. It will have a total of 365,000 solar panels on an area of 307 hectares. Up to 900 people will work on the development phase.

“Starting construction of one of our largest solar plants in the Spanish market is a major milestone for Axpo's solar development business in Spain,” explained Antoine Millioud, Head of Axpo's Solar Division. “Our know-how in this market and throughout the solar energy value chain puts us in an excellent position.”

Fourteen terawatts
In addition to its involvement in constructing solar power plants and energy production, the Swiss company also markets renewable energy on the continent. Its portfolio encompasses fourteen terawatts of solar and wind energy. It also has long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). In its home country, the company embarked upon a new phase of solar plant development after regulations were relaxed.

Once commissioned, the Leon plant will be able to meet the annual electricity needs of more than 76,000 households.

As Invest In Spain recently reported, the company is also promoting other sustainable energy projects, such as the plant producing biomethane from livestock at the Torre Santamaría farm in Vallfogona de Balaguer (Lérida). The project started in 2020, driven by Axpo Iberia, which acquired a 40% stake in the facility in May./p>

^{Photo: Axpo}