Iberdrola reinforces its innovative and renewable leadership in Spain by building the first hybrid wind and solar complex in Spain in the province of Burgos.

The company continues constructing two photovoltaic (PV) plants of 41 and 33 megawatts (MW), respectively, which will have more than 170,000 modules and will be located in the Burgos municipalities of Revilla Vallejera, Villamedianilla and Vallejera. They will enable the hybridisation of the existing 69 MW BaCa – Ballestas and Casetona – wind farm.

The initiative will contribute to developing the local economy in Castille and León with peak construction involving 360 jobs.

The company has allocated more than €40 million to the construction of this project, which combines wind and solar energy at a single site.

Hybridisation makes it possible to optimise the use of the grid while minimising the environmental impact of the projects. Iberdrola will invest in this technology over the coming years in Spain, aiming to improve its renewable resources and make the most of existing locations.

Cutting-edge technology

The incorporation of solar modules will increase the performance of existing wind facilities. It will contribute clean, cheap and competitive energy to the electricity system by guaranteeing the maximum supply of green energy originally authorised for each project for as long as possible.

By having two technologies capable of alternating, dependence on changing environmental conditions and limitations due to possible lack of resources such as wind or sunshine is significantly reduced, facilitating more stable and efficient renewable production.

Hybrid generation plants use the same grid connection point and shared infrastructures, such as the substation and the evacuation line for the electricity produced. In addition, they are located on land already used for renewable generation and allow for common roads and facilities for the operation of both technologies. All of this results in a much lower environmental impact than would have been the case with two independent plants.                                                                        

A new energy landscape that fixes population to rural areas

Iberdrola promotes renewable energy as a driver of rural development, and in this way, the villages emerge as a guarantee for the future. This is the case of the villages of Castile and Leon, surrounded by wind farms and photovoltaic plants that Iberdrola is developing, which will contribute to sustainable recovery, allowing for local employment to be created.

In the region, the company has begun constructing the Valdemoro and Buniel wind farms and obtained the environmental permit for the Alcocero de Mola and Iglesias wind project. The latter will include the world’s most powerful onshore wind turbines, manufactured by Siemens Gamesa – the first 5.X platform equipment in Spain. The province of Burgos alone has recently built or is developing more than 550 MW spread between seven wind farms.

Iberdrola is also developing three PV  facilities in the region totalling 450 MW – Villarino, Velilla and Virgen de Areños III – and has commissioned its first photovoltaic plant in the region – Revilla-Vallejera (50 MW) – in the province of Burgos.

With these projects, Iberdrola reinforces its commitment to Castilla y León, which is consolidating as an important centre for renewable energy developments. Iberdrola already operates more than 5,150 MW in the region.

World leader in renewable energy and storage

The Iberdrola group became committed to renewable energy and storage more than two decades ago as a fundamental pillar to building a clean, reliable and intelligent business model.

Thanks to this vision, the company is today a world leader in renewable energy, with over 40,300 MW of renewable capacity in operation by the end of Q1 2023 and plans to execute 7,675 MW over the next four years, having become a leader in the energy transition towards a low-emission economy.

Iberdrola is also a leader in energy storage, with a capacity of 4,473 MW installed using pumped storage technology and more than 200 MW  in batteries. At the end of 2022, the company reached 101-gigawatt hours (GWh) of storage capacity.

Its 2025 Strategic Plan envisages an investment of €17 billion in renewable businesses. Thanks to these investments, Iberdrola plans to increase its installed renewable capacity by 12,100 MW, reaching 52,000 MW in 2025 – 3,100 MW of onshore wind, 6,300 MW of photovoltaic, 1,800 MW of offshore, 700 MW of batteries and 200 MW of hydro.

Source: https://www.iberdrola.com/
Image source: Courtesy of Iberdrola

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