Alicante regional government opts for renewable energy

July 22, 2008

One of the largest solar energy farms in Europe was opened in Crevillente on Monday in a week when the world’s attention was focused on renewable energy and the challenges of climate change at the G8 summit.

El Realengo solar plant is set to produce 19 million kilowatts of electricity each year and it has been promoted entirely with Spanish funding by the Grupo Enercoop cooperative.

Enercoop director general Ildefonso Serrano explained the first phase of the installation cost 36 million euros and uses 27,400 solar panels.

The second and third phases, due for completion in September, will more than double the amount of energy produced, he added.

The entire site covers 120,000 square metres on land ceded by the town hall.

“This will make Crevillente one of the towns that consumes the most clean energy in Spain, as the production will serve 66% of the population of the municipality,” said Sr Serrano.

Mayor of Crevillente Cesar Augusto Asencio was joined by regional president Francisco Camps and other regional government chiefs for the inauguration.

Sr Camps said that by 2011 a total of 42% of the electrical energy in the region will come from clean sources.

“Alicante province has the highest ratio of solar-generated power per square kilometre in Spain,” he added.

World leaders at this week’s G8 summit in Japan said they will aim to set a global target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2050 in an effort to tackle global warming.

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