Cosentino Group, a global producer and distributor of innovative and sustainable surfaces for architecture and design, has officially activated the largest photovoltaic self-consumption installation put into operation in Spain, and one of the largest in Europe. The plant will be located in the municipalities of Cantoria and Partaloa within the Industrial Park that the multinational has in Almeria. Cosentino worked in collaboration with local administrations to achieve this milestone. With an investment of €14 million, this project, which is already operational supposes a new renewable electricity management model in the industrial field.
The platform on ground has almost 37,000 solar panels -of 540Wp each and a fixed structure- on a total land area of more than 40 hectares. With a capacity of 20 megawatt-peak (MWp), it will generate approximately 34,000 MWh per year. It represents about 20 percent of Cosentino’s annual electrical consumption. Framed in the 2030-2050 decarbonization strategy of the company, it will not only contribute to reducing its carbon footprint but also combine a biodiversity recovery initiative. Thus, 15 hectares annexed to the solar platform will be dedicated to a biodiversity project based on the planting of flora and autochthonous species.
The official inauguration took place in November 2022 with the presence of Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, Director of Sustainability, Environment, and Blue Economy of the Andalusian Government. The act was part of the institutional visit that Fernández-Pacheco made to Cosentino’s HQ in which, in addition to the inauguration of the photovoltaic installation, he had the opportunity to learn first-hand about other advances and projects that the multinational is carrying out within its Industrial Expansion Plan. Along with political representatives, they were received and accompanied by Francisco Martínez-Cosentino Justo, President of Cosentino Group; Álvaro de la Haza, Executive Vice President; and Antonio Urdiales, Director of the Environment.
Continuing with the commitment to solar energy, the company has already launched a second phase consisting of the installation of solar panels located on the roofs of its factories. This project, expected to start by the end of 2023, will involve an investment of approximately €10 million. This second installation will have a power of 15MW peak, which will be added to the 20MW of the actual on ground platform and will contribute to raising the annual self-consumption energy production figure within the Cosentino Industrial Park to 30 percent.
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