Located in Yebra, in the Castilla La-Mancha region, the Valdezorita solar farm isABO Wind’s first turnkey project in Spain. The project started in January 2024 and is progressing according to plan, with installation of the mounting systems and photovoltaic panels scheduled for this summer. This innovative plant, with 87,000 modules, is scheduled to be connected to the grid in early 2025, with an estimated annual output of 100 GWh.
Economic impact and local collaboration
The development of the project benefited from excellent collaboration with landowners and public authorities, facilitated by the support of local residents and councils.
Patricia Comes Salvador, Managing Director of ABO Energy España S.A.U. and responsible for project development in Spain explains that, “Our project team has developed this major project in a short period of time, over the last four years.”
The project will also stimulate the rural economy by awarding major contracts to Spanish subcontractors.
Environmental and technological integration
Grid capacity for the Valdezorita solar farm was granted taking into account the socio-economic and environmental benefits for the region, affected by the closure of the former nuclear power plant. Compensatory measures to offset environmental impact are being implemented, such as radio tagging and monitoring of native eagles, installation of nest boxes for European rollers and habitat improvement for steppe birds. This farm uses tracking technology to orient the solar panels towards the sun and optimize yield, making it the largest inABO Wind ‘s history to use this technology.
Financing and future prospects
The project was financed by an investment of several tens of millions of euros, with funds from the German bank KfW and in cooperation with DAL Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing GmbH & Co KG. ABO Wind has also secured a long-term pay-as-you-go power purchase agreement (PPA) with a major international buyer. The transformation of the Spanish subsidiary into ABO Energy, already completed in February 2024, reflects the expansion of the company’s range of technologies and services.
ABO Wind’s Valdezorita project symbolizes a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions in Spain, marking not only a technological breakthrough with the use of tracked solar panels, but also an environmentally-friendly integration that benefits the local community.