The Basque Country will double its photovoltaic generation capacity with the largest solar project in its history.

EKIAN, the largest solar project in the Basque Country, will add 24 MW of renewable energy before the end of 2019

The Basque Country plans to double its solar electricity generation capacity, with 24 new MW, before the end of 2019. This “milestone” will be possible thanks to the new construction of what is, until now, the largest solar project in the Basque Country.In the Eastin Araba, which will begin next June. Thus, the Basque Government plans to increase photovoltaic solar energy, which currently accounts for 1.4% of total renewable energy, to 4.4% in just under a decade. This objective is necessary to meet the renewable electricity production targets set out in the Basque Government’s Energy Strategy for 2030. In this way, the Basque Country is joining the trend of a generation source that recently brought us the news of…Europe’s largest photovoltaic project.

This park, located in the Ribera Baja region of the province, is a public-private initiative that will equip 67,000 solar panels of 355 watts each, capable of a total installed capacity of 24 MW, with an estimated annual production of 40,000 MWh. This energy is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 15,000 families in one year.

However, Ekian is also a pioneering initiative in the Basque Country, as it is the first time that an energy project of this type has been promoted through collaboration between the public and private sectors. Thus, the final owners of the installed capacity will be joint ventures, which will contribute approximately €24 million to bring the project to fruition.

Start of construction

Although the project is scheduled for completion in December, construction will begin at the end of April. This will involve clearing 20,000 m³ of earth.³of earth and demolish 6,000 m³of rock. Prior to that, during the month of May, driving tests will take place, in which the reaction of the ground for the foundation of the pillars will be checked. Thus, the first solar modules will be installed at the end of June.