Inaugurato in Castiglia y León il parco fotovoltaico ERG Garnacha Solar

The official opening ceremony of the ERG Garnacha Solar power plant was held today in Toro (Zamora – Castilla y León).

Attendees included the President of ERG, Edoardo Garrone, the Executive Vice President, Alessandro Garrone, the Vice President Giovanni Mondini and several local authorities, including Rubén Rodriguez Lucas, Viceconsejero Regional de Medio Ambiente.

Acquired by ERG in June 2023, and started-up in the 4Q 2023, the Garnacha power plant has a total installed capacity of 149 MWp, making it the largest facility in ERG’s European portfolio. With around 275,000 photovoltaic modules spread over 224 hectares and a load factor of 22%, the plant is expected to generate approximately 280 GWh per year—enough to meet the needs of 53,000 households. This will contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 136,000 tonnes per year. 70% of the electricity generated by ERG Garnacha Solar is covered by a 12-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Google.

ERG's commitment to sustainability

As part of territorial compensation activities for the plant, ERG collaborated with the Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León to implement an agronomic plan covering an area equivalent to the size of the plant. This plan includes crop rotation, the sowing of winter cereals, the maintenance of fallow land, and the avoidance of herbicides and pesticides, while preserving field boundaries. Additionally, to support local wildlife, a conservation building for the lesser kestrel (commonly known as "Primillar" from the Spanish name of the species) was constructed within the solar plant area. Six shelters for small mammals and invertebrates were also created, along with 40 nesting boxes and ten bird perches.

ERG in Spain

ERG, operating in nine European countries and two states in the US, has strengthened its position in Spain through ERG Garnacha Solar, aligning with the goals of its 2024-2026 Industrial Plan for geographic and technological diversification. Since entering the Iberian market at the end of 2021, the Group has invested approximately €300 million in Spain, reaching an installed solar capacity of 266 MW and developing a pipeline of 1 GW in projects located in Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, and the Balearic Islands.