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The plants
Los Naranjos and Las Corchas
The two photovoltaic plants are located in the vicinity of the Spanish towns of Carmona and La Rinconada (near Seville). They have a combined capacity of 100 MW and generate 202 GWh per year, which is the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of a town like Carmona.
Las Corchas and Los Naranjos consist of 258,120 bifacial photovoltaic panels, which capture solar radiation on both sides, for optimal use. Furthermore, 14 transformer substations, two electrical substations and 45 kilometers of underground power lines were built for their operation. 70 million euros have been invested in the plants.
Technology
Solar - Agrivoltaics
Status
In operation
Capacity
100 MW
Energy production
302 GWh annually
CO2 emissions avoided
94,000 tons annually
Electricity equivalent
25,500 households per year.
Timeline
Milestones
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Construction
Construction process
The construction of the plants, which was completed in record time, followed the guidelines of our Sustainable Construction model. This involved installing a photovoltaic system to cover the energy requirements of the site, the use of tanks to collect rainwater, an efficient and low-consumption lighting system, separating waste and using an electric car to move about the plants.
Upon completion of the work, the panels used were incorporated into the photovoltaic park, while the water tanks were donated for public use.
Impact on the local community
The Los Naranjos and Las Corchas photovoltaic plants are unique due to their use of the agrivoltaic model, which means the land on which they are located is shared with the primary sector.
First came the local shepherds, whose sheep graze under the solar panels. This benefits not only the animals, but also the maintenance of the facilities, since the animals clear and clean the soil. Then came the bees of our solar apiary: 10 beehives located in a fenced and safe environment near the aromatic plants, which also grow in the areas around the park. The bees pollinate the aromatic plants and produce honey with Denomination of Origin: "solar" honey.
The solar apiary is an inclusive space for creating synergies with local businesses. The honey produced by the bees is used by a local baker and by the Carmona Convent to make pastries. The product’s label was designed by the Carmona Association of People with Disabilities.
The Carmona Town Council and Enel Green Power Spain have launched initiatives for creating awareness of this synergy through training and employment workshops for rural areas, working in collaboration with local associations. The apiary is also a space for open innovation that promotes the development of startups like Smartbee and Protofy.
Digital initiatives
For the construction of the two photovoltaic plants, Enel Green Power Spain used cutting-edge technology: an exoskeleton for the installation of the solar panels, security cameras to detect any security breach during construction, and an integrated junctions system that makes it possible to connect photovoltaic modules without using rivets.
Furthermore, we used virtual reality to oversee construction through smart glasses, which enabled us to provide remote assistance without the need to be physically present on site. This technology also incorporates an infrared camera that captures construction and other activities in real time.