Endesa has received permission to build a 20.1MW photovoltaic solar energy plant in the industrial park at Guadarranque, San Roque. The first stage of the plant will have a 12.3MW generating capacity and will cover 37 hectares. Endesa Generation will start work on this stage in July 2007.

Endesa commented that, in total, the plant will have production capacity of 36GWh per year, equivalent to the power needs of an area such as Torremolinos. The plant will also prevent over13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

Production at the plant will increase during the summer months due to the higher number of daylight hours. This will help to meet the huge rise in demand in the summer.

Endesa Generation has completed all of the engineering work required for the plant's construction, and the equipment supplier is currently being selected from the major domestic and international suppliers.

Endesa said that the location of the new plant is perfect, not only because of the amount of solar radiation it receives, but also because photovoltaic cells work better near the coast, where average summer temperatures are cooler.

The project forms part of Endesa's strategic plan for the development of clean energies, which forecasts 100MW of new capacity from solar energy over the next five years. The new plant will also improve Endesa's generation mix, and confirms its commitment to renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic solar energy, as an alternative source of power generation with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.