News

Iberdrola plans to install another 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar and wind power in Extremadura by 2022, thus placing this region right in the middle of its European renewable strategy. The announcement was made today by the group’s Chairman, Ignacio Galán, during the groundbreaking ceremony which saw the first solar panel installed at the Núñez de Balboa photovoltaic (PV) plant in Usagre (Badajoz). Also in attendance was the President of Extremadura regional Government, Guillermo Fernández Vara, and other local authorities.

Of the new projects in the region some are at an advanced stage of development, including the Ceclavín, Arenales and Campo Arañuelo I and II PV plants. The new renewable generation capacity will mean doubling up the capacity attributed to Iberdrola from the Almaraz nuclear power station^[1].

This move is the result of the company’s plan to reactivate clean energy in Spain, where the company will invest €8 billion between 2018 and 2022, and commission up to 10,000 megawatts by 2030; plans which were recently presented at its Strategic Outlook update in London.

“This plan will allow us to create jobs for 20,000 people, nearly 10 times the number currently working in our company on traditional power generation,” explained the Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán.

The projects under development in Extremadura and the rest of Spain form part of the €34 billion global investments that Iberdrola will make between 2018 and 2022.

Núñez de Balboa has 500 MW installed capacity and is the largest photovoltaic project under construction in Spain and Europe. During his speech, Ignacio Galán highlighted that “this renewable mega-facility will become the spearhead that will consolidate the leadership position of Extremadura, Spain and the European Union in the transition to a more sustainable energy system.”

In this plant, scheduled to be commissioned in 2020, Iberdrola will invest some €300 million and will create up to 1,000 construction jobs. Local companies, such as Ecoenergías del Guadiana, Imedexsa, Cubillana, Elaborex and the Instituto Aeronáutico will also participate in this project.

As Ignacio Galán explained, the Núñez de Balboa plant will occupy nearly 1,000 hectares surface area and will generate enough clean power to supply 250,000 people, which is more than the population of the cities of Cáceres and Badajoz combined. “The plant will also avoid the emission of 215,000 tons de CO₂ into the atmosphere each year, strengthening our commitment to protecting the environment and mitigating global warming,” said the company’s Chairman.

Iberdrola in Extremadura

The Chairman of Iberdrola referred today to the “permanent link” between the company and Extremadura, “a union that was forged through many decades of trust and mutual commitment.”

The company has 720 employees^[2] in the region while creating hundreds of additional jobs through procurement from local suppliers, which in 2018 alone totalled 175 million euros. In addition, Iberdrola is working to offer the best service to its customers in Extremadura. Last year, the quality of the company’s supply to this autonomous region attained a historical record, five times better than that of ten years ago.

^{[1] Capacity at Almaraz nuclear power plant stands at 2,095 MW of which Iberdrola controls 53%
[2] Figure includes 100% of Almaraz nuclear power plant}