Renewable energy producer Statkraft has received the prior administrative authorisation and environmental impact statement from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to go ahead with the construction of Fausita Solar. Both procedures open the door for the company to start constructing what will be its first renewable project in the Region of Murcia, and which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2026.

The Fausita Solar solar farm will have an installed capacity of 228 megawatts peak and will be located in the municipalities of Murcia and Torre-Pacheco. With an investment of 150 million euros, it will be one of the Norwegian company's largest solar installations in Spain. The construction work and subsequent operation will generate over 500 jobs, and priority will be given to hiring local staff and companies.

Environmental sustainability
The Fausita Solar project includes a series of measures to preserve the biodiversity of its surroundings. These measures include Statkraft’s commitment to conserve the existing irrigation ponds and install ten floating platforms for nesting and resting waterfowl. It will also build ten refuges for amphibians and reptiles and other infrastructure for various plant and animal species, including pollinating insects.

As part of its environmental protection measures, the company will also bury two kilometres of power lines underground to minimise the impact on birdlife, and will install protective measures on the overhead power lines. Finally, it will release 100 hectares for forestry use and offset its presence with compensatory measures on another 440 hectares of land near the project.

Acquisition of Enerfin
In its recently published 2023 balance sheet, Statkraft highlights the milestone acquisition of Enerfin, the renewables subsidiary of the Elecnor group. The deal, which was closed for a total of1.8 billion euros, added another 1,500 megawatts of wind projects in operation and under construction to the Norwegian energy company's portfolio, with other future facilities in earlier stages of development.

The acquisition of Enerfin is expected to be closed in the second quarter of 2024, and will make Statkraft “one of the top ten Spanish wind energy companies”, in the words of its Country Manager for Spain, José Miguel Ferrer, “boosting our position in the renewable industry in our country”.

^{Photo: Statkraft}