The Swedish company Zelestra, which specialises in the development, construction, marketing and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects, has started the construction of two new solar plants in Spain. Located in Albacete and Guadalajara, they will have a combined capacity of 83 MWp and will prevent the emission of more than 71,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.

The output of the two new facilities will be used to supply energy to the US-based Graphic Packaging International, which specialises in the design and manufacture of packaging from renewable or recycled materials, with facilities in Cantabria and Barcelona. This supply will be carried out under a long-term marketing agreement (Power purchase agreement, PPA) signed by both parties.

José Cabrera and Socovos II
The first of the photovoltaic plants, called José Cabrera, is being built in Guadalajara and will have a capacity of 50.4 MWp. The Albacete plant, named Socovos II, will have a capacity of 33 MWp. Together, they will produce energy equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 37,500 homes once they come on stream, which is expected to be sometime next year.

The project developer stresses that the construction and operation of these facilities will create local employment in its different stages. Zelestra CEO Leo Moreno said, "We are proud to contribute to Spain's energy future and to generate economic and environmental benefits for the country. The construction of these plants demonstrates our focus on execution in Spain, one of our key growth markets."

Zelestra currently operates 384 MWp of installed capacity in Spain, out of a total of twenty gigawatts of renewable energy projects in thirteen countries. With more than 800 employees worldwide, the Swedish company is backed by fund manager EQT, which is also Swedish-owned.

^{Photo: Zelestra}