The project represents an investment of 335 million euros and will generate approximately 683,374 MWh of clean energy per year, equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of around 196,000 homes.
More than 2,100 professionals worked on its construction, around 600 of them from municipalities neighbouring the plant, while more than 80 SMEs from the surrounding area participated in the project.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the plant site, was attended by X-ElioExecutive Chairman Lluís Noguera; X-ElioHead of Sustainability and Communications Isabel Ruiz; Mayor of Lorca Fulgencio Gil Jódar; Regional Minister for the Environment, Industry, Universities, Research and the Mar Menor of the Region of Murcia, Juan María Vázquez Rojas; and Government Delegate in the Region of Murcia Francisco Lucas Ayala, as well as representatives from public authorities, local organisations and project partners.
A portion of Lorca Solar’s output is contracted under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Thermo Fisher Scientific, GSK, Haleon, Gilead Sciences, Inc. and The Sherwin-Williams Company. The project has also been financed by Banco Santander, the Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) and Unicaja.
Lorca Solar has been designed to integrate renewable energy generation with its natural and social surroundings. Of the project’s more than 760 hectares, 400 have been allocated to environmental measures aimed at restoring habitats, supporting biodiversity and preserving traditional land uses. These measures include the management of agricultural plots for steppe birds and birds of prey, the introduction of sheep grazing to control vegetation and reduce wildfire risk, and the installation of shelters and breeding areas for wildlife.
Engagement with the local area is structured through the Sustainable Communities and Nature Plan, which adapts its initiatives to local needs in order to create opportunities for residents. Measures include certified training in photovoltaic project installation and occupational risk prevention, as well as the installation of solar self-consumption systems in schools and public buildings. During the event, X-Elio recognised the contribution of local associations and organisations that have collaborated with the company under this plan.
With 18 years of activity in the Region, X-Elio has already brought 14 photovoltaic plants and 846 MW of capacity into operation in Murcia. Building on this track record, the company will continue to assess new photovoltaic and energy storage opportunities that respond to energy demand while maintaining its close ties with the local area.
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