Acciona Energia has completed its first hybrid renewable energy plant with the construction of a solar plant at the site of its operational Escepar wind farm in Spain.
The hybrid wind (36MW) and solar (29MW) park is located in the municipalities of Villalba del Rey and Tinajas (Cuenca).
The PV farm generated up to 130 jobs during the peak of its construction.
In addition, the project is part of the Social Impact Management (GIS) programme that Acciona Energia implements at all its facilities with the aim of generating a positive impact on the communities in which it operates by reinvesting part of its annual income in the area.
In the specific case of Villalba del Rey, the company is carrying out a programme to revitalise the Santos Sebastián e Isidro Cooperative, one of the main economic engines of the municipality, and financing various measures to boost its performance.
In addition, the company has organised different activities in the Association of Retirees and Pensioners of Tinajas and is financing the improvement of its facilities.
Escepar is the company’s first hybrid renewables facility, where two or more renewable energy generation technologies use the same connection point, optimising the use of the grid.
By combining alternating technologies, such as wind and solar, dependence on environmental conditions is reduced and a more constant and stable renewable production is achieved.
In addition, by sharing infrastructure, the construction of new power lines, substations, facilities and roads is avoided, reducing the environmental impact that two independent projects would have.