Plenitude, an Eni-controlled energy company, has commenced construction of a 220 MW solar plant in Villarino de los Aires, Salamanca, Spain. The facility, spanning 286 hectares, will be among the largest in the Castilla y Leon region and will connect to Spain’s national grid via a 3.2 km underground medium-voltage line. The plant will feature 365,300 bifacial modules and is expected to generate over 400 GWh of electricity annually, with completion targeted for 2025. Sterling & Wilson, alongside local firms, is leading the construction.
Environmental measures include conserving rural huts, protecting natural water channels, and installing a permeable hunting fence. The project expands Plenitude’s presence in Castilla y Leon, complementing its existing 13 MW wind facility. Currently, Plenitude operates over 440 MW of photovoltaic and wind capacity in Spain and is developing projects totaling 1 GW, with an additional 2 GW of capacity under development.
Mariangiola Mollicone, Plenitude Spain’s managing director and Western Europe Renewables head, emphasized the collaborative nature of the Villarino project, aligning with the company’s growth strategy in Spain.
Earlier in 2024, Plenitude partnered with BlueFloat Energy and Sener Renewable Investments to develop 1.25 GW of floating offshore wind projects in Spain, including initiatives like Parque Nordes in Galicia, Parc Tramuntana in Catalonia, and Parque Tarahal in the Canary Islands.