Enel Green Power España has started the construction phase for the Balbona solar plant, which, with a capacity of around 145 MWp, will be the largest solar power plant operated by Endesa's renewable energy subsidiary in the Region of Murcia. Located in the town of Jumilla, it will generate around 250 jobs during the construction phase.

The Enel group company intends to encourage the hiring of local labour for this phase, and also for the plant’s subsequent operation. To do this, it has initiated procedures to set up training courses in coordination with Jumilla Town Council.

One of the courses will be on assembling solar panels and the other on operating and maintaining renewable energy installations. Each one will have around 50 students, and where priority will be given to unemployed people, women and Jumilla residents. They will cover a total of 140 teaching hours and will be recognised with an official certificate.

Renewable capacity
The Balbona solar plant will have a capacity of 143.98 MWp, tripling Endesa's current renewable capacity in Murcia. The company's other solar power plant in the region is located in the town of Totana, and has a capacity of 49 MWp.

A total of 82 million euros will be invested in constructing the new facility. Innovative technology will be used in this phase to reduce the environmental impact. One of these is the e-house system, a prefabricated installation used to house electronic equipment, and which reduces the use of building materials by 60%.

Prefabricated foundations
Another innovation in the plant’s construction will be prefabricated foundations, which will reduce construction time and its carbon footprint compared to traditional systems. On completion of the installation, the company will donate some of the items used to the local community, from packaging to defibrillators.

In parallel with this project, the company will support the installation of 125 kWp for the collective self-consumption of solar power on the roofs of several municipal buildings and on the roof of a home for people with disabilities. Students from the association that manages this residence did in addition receive a course on composting and maintaining plant barriers, which Endesa wanted to do to contribute to integrating people with disabilities in the area. This certificate can, among other places, be used to work in clearing and maintaining the vegetation around the Balbona solar plant itself.

^{Photo: Endesa}