Naturgy has received a favourable Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 18 wind and photovoltaic projects, jointly representing over 1.3 GW power. The environmental green light for these developments allows the power company to strengthen its commitment to the energy transition and continue to progress in its decarbonisation strategy.
Naturgy projects with connection rights that expired on 25 January and now have a favourable EIS are: wind farms Monte Peón (12.6 MW), Meirama (44.5 MW), Piago (27.6 MW), Porto Vidros (10.4 MW), As Encrobas (20 MW), Uxo (21 MW), Picato (46 MW) and Campo das Rosas (27,6 MW), in Galicia; wind farm Valverde (49.5 MW) and photovoltaic plants La Serna (49.5 MW), La Pradera (300 MW) and Los Corrales (250 MW), in Castile and León. The last two project received a favourable EIS from the Ministry for Ecological Transition with restrictions related to surface area.
The Campo de Arañuelo (300 MW) photovoltaic plant in Extremadura has also been given environmental approval and will be the largest solar facility built by the company in Spain. Moreover, approval has been granted to the group in the Canary Islands for wind farms Tabaibal (4.7 MW) and Ajuy (2.35 MW), as well as photovoltaic plants Zorita I and II (100 MW) and Ocaña (50 MW) in Castile-La Mancha.
All these projects are added to those with connection rights that expired on 25 January but which are in a more advanced stage of development. Specifically, photovoltaic plants El Encinar I (50 MW), Naipes (50 MW) and Naipes II (50 MW) in Extremadura; Jumilla (34 MW) in Murcia; and Villanueva del Rey (50 MW) in Andalusia. Already in the initial phase of construction, these facilities total an additional power of 234 MW.
Naturgy is working with the goal of commissioning 3 GW of new renewable power in Spain between 2023 and 2025. In 2022 alone, the company began operating wind and solar projects with a joint capacity of 281 MW, increasing its renewable power in Spain to 4.4 GW at year end.
In line with its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, Naturgy approved its current Sustainability Plan with which the company is boosting its role in the energy transition and decarbonisation. The plan includes the goal of achieving an installed capacity from renewable sources of around 60% in 2025. For this, it plans to invest 14 billion euros to that date, of which approximately two thirds will go to fostering renewable generation.
International renewables
Internationally, Naturgy has 993 MW of wind and photovoltaic power installed in Australia, Chile, Brazil and Mexico, with around another 2 GW in construction and development in Australia, 1.7 GW in the US and 0.2 GW in Chile. Added to this is 124 MW renewable hydropower in Costa Rica and Panama.
In Australia, the company is currently operating wind farms in Crookwell 2 and Berrybank 1, as well as the Queanbeyan battery storage system and the recent commissioning of Berrybank 2. Naturgy is also working on a strong portfolio of renewable projects in construction and development, and it aims to increase total installed capacity in the country by around 2 GW from here to the end of 2025.
In the United States, Naturgy is maintaining its growth plan and has begun construction of its first photovoltaic power plant in the country, where it will develop 3.2 GW of solar and 2 GW of storage over the coming years.
In the area of offshore wind power, Naturgy reached an agreement with the Norwegian company Equinor to analyse and develop offshore projects in Spain and to harness its complementary capabilities for the development of this technology with great potential in the country.
The two companies are already working on the joint development of the Floating Offshore Wind Canarias (FOWCA) project, with which they want to install more than 200 MW of floating offshore wind power in the maritime area of eastern Gran Canaria, where the first offshore wind auction is expected to take place.