Project for the installation of an agrovoltaic system in the municipality of Santa Eugènia

The project

One of the main challenges we face as a society is the progressive abandonment of fossil fuels and the introduction of renewable energies in order to fully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus meet the climate objectives set out in the Paris Agreement.

However, there continues to be a lower level of incorporation of renewable energy in the Balearic Islands in comparison with the rest of Spain. There are various reasons for this. These are islands, the cost of rural land is high, and the fact that these are smaller projects are all factors that push up costs. In addition, projects to implement renewable energy on rural land meet with public opposition, due to land consumption and conflict with traditional uses of the countryside and the production of food.

For this reason, it is necessary to promote initiatives that demonstrate the synergies that can be generated between the generation of energy and agricultural activities, in order to make a positive contribution to the development of similar projects.

The aim of this project is to develop a mixed facility combining agricultural and energy exploitation on a plot of land owned by the Balearic Islands government in the municipality of Santa Eugènia. It is a 1.6 MW renewable energy project, with battery storage located on a plot of just over two hectares in an area where it is expected to produce around 2,400 MWh/year of emission-free electricity, with an expected annual return of around €100,000.

The energy project is expected to occupy around one and a half hectares of land, with the remaining part of the plot being used for the development of the agricultural project, which will be granted under a concession formula and priority will be given to cooperative projects or social integration companies.

The project also includes the drafting of a good practice guide for agrovoltaic farms, which will be shared with town councils, companies working in the agricultural and photovoltaic sector and other relevant organisations.