The Helioenergy 1 and 2 plants, each boasting 50 MW of power and employing parabolic trough technology, are due to enter service at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, respectively. Once they go into operation, the two plants will generate enough solar energy to meet the electricity needs of 52,000 households, and avoiding the emission of around 63,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The partners recently completed financing for the projects, procuring a total of €310 million. This transaction involved the participation of twelve financial entities: Banco Popular, Banco Santander, Banesto, Bankinter, Barclays, Caja Madrid, Cajasol, Crédite Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CA-CIB), La Caixa, SMBC, Societé Générale, and Unicaja. "Obtaining financial backing from twelve top financial entities constitutes a success and underscores the confidence of the financial sector in quality projects," said Santiago Seage, Abengoa Solar’s CEO.
In turn, Frank Mastiaux, CEO of E.ON Climate & Renewables, emphasised that "the great progress in our construction schedule indicates that E.ON and Abengoa Solar’s partnership is en route to deliver first class power plants. This partnership is an important step in making solar the second pillar of E.ON’s Renewables growth strategy".
Miguel Antoñanzas, President of E.ON España, said "these projects consolidate the fast transformation of our generation park in Spain to a diversified and environmentally friendly mix of more than 4,500 MW in the Iberian Peninsula".
Both companies are founding members of the Desertec Industrial Initiative for the development of projects involving renewable energy in the desert regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa.
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