Ecoener secures 15% of SolCan ERDF subsidies for photovoltaic plants totalling 35 MW in the Canary Islands

03 | 15 | 2021

Ecoener secures 15% of SolCan ERDF subsidies for photovoltaic plants totalling 35 MW in the Canary Islands

  • Ecoener success: 12 projects led by Ecoener Group head up the list of top-scoring selected projects
  • The 12 projects, financed by Banco Sabadell, are already under construction in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. Another three PV parks are expected to be commissioned in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Gomera.

Ecoener, an energy generation company specialised in long-term renewable technology, has been awarded 15% of the total subsidies granted through the SolCan aid programme’s first photovoltaic capacity tender. The SolCan programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Ecoener won a total of 35 MW, which equates to €3 million, making it one of the largest awardees in the tender process.

Ecoener submitted 15 of the more than 100 projects that were considered, 12 of which topped the list with the highest scores of the 65 selected. These projects, financed by Banco Sabadell, have the necessary permits and are already under construction. They are expected to be operational before the end of the year. Located in San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Gran Canaria), these projects represent 25% of the total capacity awarded in Gran Canaria and will be connected to the Las Salinas de Matorral substation, recently expanded by Ecoener.

The new photovoltaic facilities will generate power equivalent to the annual consumption of 19,600 households and will reduce CO2 emissions by 40,000 metric tonnes. In keeping with Ecoener’s commitment to the environment, the solar panels will be anchored via piling that is driven into the ground. This approach reduces the overall environmental impact and damage to the land’s agricultural properties because major earthworks are not required for installation. 

The new photovoltaic power plants will be equipped with cutting-edge technology which is not used anywhere else on the island. The panels will be outfitted with a solar tracker and PERC technology, which uses infra-red light to increase panel efficiency. Each panel will have a capacity of 540 Wp.  

Ecoener CEO Luis de Valdivia said: “We are delighted to have secured these subsidies; this is a crucial step forward in the development of our projects. It is also a recognition of the dedication and pursuit of excellence that we put into every asset. With these new projects, we will continue to contribute to the economy of the Canary Islands and the decarbonisation of the region, consolidating the archipelago’s energy strategy and applying the highest standards of quality”.