Sonnedix exceeds first gigawatt of operational capacity in Spain

The company has reached this milestone by inaugurating a 150-megawatt solar PV power project in Cuenca.

Renewable energy producer Sonnedix has surpassed its first gigawatt of owned and operated capacity in Spain. This milestone was reached following the inauguration of the Betierra project, located in Cuenca and consisting of three solar PV power plants with a capacity of 50 megawatts peak each. Globally, the British company now has over 3.5 gigawatts of operating capacity.

One of the outstanding features of the new project is that the three plants share the grid connection infrastructure, thus optimising the energy produced. Together they already produce around 300,000 megawatt-hours of energy per year, which they supply to data centre company Equinix through a ten-year power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in May 2023.

Growing portfolio
Sonnedix's operating portfolio in Spain will continue to grow beyond the first gigawatt reached by the end of 2024. The Betierra project itself, acquired from RIC Energy in 2021 when it was in the development phase, will double its capacity and reach 300 megawatts peak after commissioning of the 150 megawatts peak now in the advanced development phase.

Sonnedix CEO Axel Thiemann said, “Following Betierra’s inauguration, we are proud to celebrate the historic achievement of one gigawatt of capacity in Spain. This comes a month after we celebrated the 15th anniversary of Sonnedix, a journey that began in Spain. From a 1-megawatt solar PV power plant, we have become a leading player in solar PV power in the country. This portfolio is also our tenth project to commence commercial operation this year alone, reflecting our continued expansion on a global scale.”

Efficient and cost-effective construction
According to Sonnedix's Representative Director in Spain, Gerson González Hernández, over the past three years, ”the team has focused on the efficient and cost-effective construction of this innovative project, from optimising the shared interconnection infrastructure to adapting its design to suit and protect the natural environment. The support from local and regional authorities has been instrumental in achieving this milestone, which not only provides clean energy to Equinix through a long-term PPA, but also contributes significantly to Spain's renewable energy and energy transition goals.”

Equinix's Managing Director in Spain, Eulalia Flo, explained, “The inauguration of this new solar PV park marks a milestone in our sustainability strategy. Through this 150-megawatt PPA, the result of the agreement between Equinix and Sonnedix, we have secured a renewable energy source that exceeds the energy consumption of our data centres in Spain, which are already covered by 100% renewable energy, and at the same time we are contributing to decarbonising the Spanish grid. For Equinix, this is another positive step in our commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2030.”

Photo: Sonnedix