Iberdrola España has started commissioning its Ciudad Rodrigo photovoltaic plant in Salamanca. The facility, the company's second in the province and one of the largest in Castilla y León, has a capacity of 316 MW. Once fully operational, it is expected to generate electricity for approximately 155,000 households and reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 75,000 tonnes annually.

The solar farm spans 439 hectares across Valdecarros and the Sierra de Torralba and comprises over 460,000 photovoltaic modules. The project involved an investment of €200 million and created around 800 jobs during peak construction. Local companies contributed to the project, including Tecinsa (transformer substation), Perez Coco (cranes), Solar B-Max (mechanical assembly), and several concrete, gravel, sand, and vegetation service providers.

The project includes measures for environmental management, such as restoration of Habitats of Community Interest (HCI), construction of a new pond, maintenance of existing ponds, and installation of a perimeter green screen. Wildlife support measures include insect hotels, nest boxes for lesser kestrels, and refuges for wild rabbits.

Additionally, Iberdrola España has collaborated with the City Council of Ciudad Rodrigo on the refurbishment of access areas to the Cathedral and the sponsorship of the "Astróbriga Solar System," a large-scale educational installation.

In Castilla y León, Iberdrola España operates six photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 890 MW, as well as hydroelectric and Spain's first wind-solar hybrid plant, Ballestas and Casetona. The region has a total installed renewable energy capacity of 6,297 MW, the largest for the company in the country.

The Ciudad Rodrigo plant represents a continuation of the company's renewable energy development in the region, combining electricity generation with environmental and community considerations.

Source: iberdrolaespana.com