Plenitude breaks ground on Villarino de los Aires Solar Park in Salamanca, Spain

Plenitude has officially launched construction of a significant solar plant in Villarino de los Aires, Salamanca, Spain. The facility, expected to have an installed capacity of 220 MW, will become one of the largest solar parks in the Castilla y León region upon completion. Representatives from the Regional Government of Castilla y León, the local City Council, and Plenitude attended the cornerstone laying ceremony, marking the start of the project.

The solar park will span approximately 286 hectares and will connect to the national grid via a 3.2 km underground medium-voltage line at the Villarino de los Aires junction. With 365,300 bifacial solar modules installed, the facility aims to produce over 400,000 MWh of electricity annually, significantly contributing to Spain’s renewable energy targets.

Collaboration with Leading Global Firms

The project is expected to be completed by 2025, with the construction support of Sterling & Wilson, a globally recognized photovoltaic construction firm, alongside other key local companies. This collaboration highlights Plenitude’s strategy to partner with top-tier and local businesses to ensure successful project delivery.

Commitment to Environmental Conservation

Plenitude is implementing several measures to protect the natural surroundings of the solar park. These include the conservation and relocation of rural huts between the solar modules, safeguarding natural water channels that traverse the area, installing permeable hunting fences around the site, and closely coordinating with local farmers to harmonize the project’s operations with existing land use.

Mariangiola Mollicone, Plenitude’s Head of Western Europe Renewables and Managing Director in Spain, expressed the company’s dedication to integrating the project with the local environment. She stated that the Villarino project serves as a “virtuous example of integration with the territory” and emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining a collaborative approach in future developments.

Expanding Renewable Footprint in Castilla y León

With the launch of the Villarino project, Plenitude is solidifying its footprint in Castilla y León, where it already operates a 13 MW wind facility. This expansion is part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen its renewable energy portfolio across Spain.

Plenitude currently manages over 440 MW of installed renewable capacity in Spain, with solar and wind plants spread across regions such as Galicia, La Rioja, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Murcia. The company also has ongoing construction projects amounting to approximately 1 GW in Andalusia (Seville and Granada), Castilla y León (Salamanca), and Extremadura (Badajoz). Beyond this, Plenitude is advancing projects totaling over 2 GW at various development stages across the country.

Strategic Growth Plans Under Eni’s Control

Controlled by Eni, Plenitude operates in over 15 countries worldwide, integrating electricity production from renewable sources with energy solutions for European clients. The company currently boasts over 3 GW of installed capacity and serves 10 million clients, supported by an expansive network of 20,000 electric vehicle charging points. Looking ahead to 2027, Plenitude aims to expand its client base to 11.5 million, increase installed renewable capacity to more than 8 GW, and double its EV charging network to 40,000 points.