San Roque's new solar energy plant was inaugurated earlier this month. The plant, situated at Guadarranque, covers an area of 37 hectares and comprises of 123 solar 'orchards' each comprising of 550 panels, and is expected to generate 24 Gwh per annum, equivalent to the energy requirements of 25,000 consumers, or 65% of the population of San Roque.

The plant is the largest in Andalucia and one of the largest in Spain and there are expansion plans already in place, which will provide for the future energy needs of local industry and domestic users.

The Mayor of San Roque, José Vázquez, stated that this was one of the most important developments in San Roque's industrial landscape since the opening of the refinery in the 1960s and Sevillana's central terminal shortly afterwards, making the municipality and important part of the country's energy infrastructure.

This is just one of the projects moving towards a more cleaner and efficient energy provision with others being the Biodiesel plant and the conversion of the old power station to natural gas.

The plant has been built at a cost of 90 million euros and will provide employment for 93 workers.

The plant is connected to the San Roque substation by a 3 km 15kv line. The annual energy production is equivalent to 1,982 tonnes of petroleum and reduces emissions by 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide 64 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide, 290 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 4.3 tonnes of particles.