- These solar plants will be installed in the municipalities of Arenales de San Gregorio and Campo de Criptana, with an investment of more than 280 million euros, and will create 420 direct jobs and up to 700 in the peak period
- With these new plants, whose construction will begin in 2025, the photovoltaic projects promoted by Cepsa in this Community amount to 1,200 megawatts, with a total investment of more than 840 million euros
- The estimated production of the nine plants that the company is developing in Castilla-La Mancha is equivalent to the total domestic consumption of the entire region
- The Town Councils of both municipalities of Ciudad Real have joined the “Sumamos Energías” program, promoted by Cepsa to promote job creation, training and environmental protection, with the collaboration of the administration and local populations
According to the company’s website press release on January 18, 2023, Cepsa will add three new renewable energy projects in Castilla-La Mancha. The company will develop three photovoltaic plants in the towns of Campo de Criptana and Arenales de San Gregorio (Ciudad Real), with an estimated capacity of 400 megawatts. The installation of these solar plants will involve an investment of more than 280 million euros and their construction, which will start at the beginning of 2025, is expected to generate more than 420 jobs, reaching nearly 700 jobs in the peak phases of their development.
Once in operation, these projects will produce an estimated annual energy output of 840 GWh, which is equivalent to the consumption of approximately 250,000 households for a year, i.e., nearly one third of the domestic consumption of Castilla-La Mancha. Furthermore, the production of this renewable energy will avoid the annual emission of 336,000 tons of CO2.
Within the framework of these developments, the Town Councils of Arenales de San Gregorio and Campo de Criptana have signed agreements with Cepsa to join the “Sumamos Energías” program, which the company promotes to guarantee the integration of renewable projects in the local environment, as well as to involve the different social agents, involve the citizens and promote collaboration with the administrations.
The presentation of these agreements, held in Campo de Criptana, was attended by José Luis Escudero, Minister of Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha, Gonzalo Redondo, Vice President of the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, Santiago Lázaro, Mayor of Campo de Criptana, Iván Olmedo, Mayor of Arenales de San Gregorio, and Gerónimo de Angulo, Head of Development of photovoltaic projects of Cepsa.
José Luis Escudero highlighted the commitment of his administration to continue accelerating the "energy transition of our community based on a rational, social and environmentally responsible energy model, even more so in the current context of climate and energy crisis determined by the war in Ukraine. We are certain that these renewable energy projects, carried out with environmental rigor, can galvanize the areas where they are located, mainly rural, generating wealth and employment. That is why we celebrate the involvement of citizens and local authorities".
Gonzalo Redondo remarked: "We would like to thank Cepsa for its commitment to the local development. A commitment to economic development through renewable, clean, fair and democratic energies, not only in the present but also in the future through the Sumamos Energías program".
In his speech, Santiago Lázaro pointed out: "Today Campo de Criptana takes a step forward in the generation of clean and renewable energy, and thus moves forward to achieve a more sustainable town. The generation of employment and wealth will be a turning point in our future".
Iván Olmedo stressed: "This project, which we have been working on for several months, is undoubtedly a clear commitment to the environment, energy savings and the advancement of rural Spain. Arenales de San Gregorio is very excited that these projects, so important to make region, which support employment and help care for our environment, are a reference of the policies to be carried out in these times".
Finally, Geronimo de Angulo has pointed out: "Castilla-La Mancha is a strategic community for the development of Cepsa's renewable energy portfolio, which will allow us to drive our Positive Motion strategy. We are going to advance in the decarbonization of our activity, while generating a positive impact on the environment, based on the DNA that characterizes us: creation of shared value, listening to the public and establishing long-term relationships based on trust."
Thus, there are now nine projects that Cepsa will develop in this Community, with a total capacity of 1,200 megawatts, generating more than 2,100 jobs during their construction, with a total investment of more than 840 million euros. Once in operation, these projects will produce an estimated annual energy output of 2,500 GWh, which is almost equivalent to the total domestic consumption of the entire region. Furthermore, the production of this renewable energy will avoid the total annual emission of over a million tons of CO2.
Cepsa is developing a portfolio of renewable energies to sustainably supply the energy consumption of its industrial centers, especially for the production of green hydrogen, an energy vector in which Cepsa wants to be a leader in this decade, for which it has launched the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, the largest green hydrogen project in Europe.
Renewable energies are defined within Cepsa’s 2030 Positive Motion strategy, with which the company aims to become a leader in sustainable mobility and energy in Spain and Portugal and a benchmark in the energy transition.
Positive impact on the local environment
Through the “Sumamos Energías” program, Cepsa will work hand in hand with all local councils that want to join in the design and implementation of actions that generate value and promote socioeconomic development and the natural capital of their municipality.
“Sumamos Energías” is a program based on co-design and transparent and proactive dialogue, which seeks to create a tractor effect in the territory and maximum social and environmental integration. Each of these lines of action involves a series of initiatives linked to the nature of the projects and adapted to the needs of each locality and its neighbors.
Among the actions that Cepsa will implement in collaboration with the municipalities of Campo de Criptana and Arenales de San Gregorio, a Digital Transformation course for the training of the business network, environmental education programs and scholarships for vocational training students stand out. In addition, with the aim of promoting socioeconomic development, the company is committed to promoting job creation in the municipalities, through a specific job bank to be created by the municipalities, and to contracting local suppliers for the construction and maintenance of the renewable energy facilities.
Another of the planned initiatives is the creation of a local sustainable development fund set up and managed by the municipalities to finance sustainable investments and actions aimed at job creation, training and environmental protection in the municipality.
Through the development of projects for the generation of renewable energy and the promotion of the “Sumamos Energías” program, Cepsa contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. Specifically, it contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
