According to the Bank’s website, the Project is a multi-scheme investment programme and consists of the construction and operation of 9 solar photovoltaic plants, for a total capacity of c. 387 MWp, located in the Spanish regions of Castilla y León, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Comunidad Valenciana and Andalucía. The plants located Castilla-La Mancha and Comunidad Valenciana are organised in a cluster of 5 PV plants for a total capacity of c. 202MWp. The project scope includes the associated infrastructure, such as substations, and grid interconnections.

In the EIAs potential environmental impacts have been analysed during the different phases of the PV plants (construction, operation and decommissioning). Potential negative impacts on the environment (air, water, soil), flora and fauna, cultural heritage, protected areas, landscape and socio-economic environment have been assessed, taking into account also the cumulative impacts together with nearby infrastructure and/or neighbouring plants.

During the construction phase, the main potential impacts are associated with earth works and removal of the vegetation cover, such as destruction of habitats, fatalities of species, soil erosion, GHG emission increase, dust and noise due to construction-related activities, deterioration of ground and surface water quality or visual impact. Main potential impacts expected during the operation of the PV plants are related to the fragmentation of habitats, reduction of feeding and hunting grounds, collision and electrocution of birds or bats by the transmission lines, and visual impact.

Following the implementation of these measures, most of the residual impacts are assessed as negligible or minor.

The Malaga PV plant (32MWp) and its interconnection infrastructure are located in the province of Malaga (region of Andalucia), in the municipalities of Antequera. The project will occupy ca. 40 ha. The EIA and the EIS point out some Natura 2000 sites, Zonas de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA) and Zonas Especiales de Conservación (ZEC) close to the project. In particular, the ZEC “Sierra de Camarolos” (ES6170012) surrounds the left side of the plant but with no direct overlap with the protected area.

The Burgos II PV plant (66.4MWp) and its interconnection infrastructure are located in the province of Burgos (region of Castilla y Leon), in the municipalities of Belorado, Carria, Valle de Oca, Alcorero de Mola. The project will occupy ca. 206 ha. The EIA and the EIS point out some Natura 2000 sites, Zonas de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA) and Zonas Especiales de Conservación (ZEC) close to the project or directly affected by the project; in particular, ZEC “Riberas del Río Oca y afluentes” (ES120073) and ZEC “Ribeiras del rio Tiron y afluentes” (ES4120075) which are close to the evacuation line (around 100 meters) but without a direct overlap.

The Sarda and Bargas Solar PV plants (36.4MWp and 54MWp for a total of 90.3MWp) and their interconnection infrastructure are located in the province of Zaragoza (region of Aragón), in the municipalities of Pozuelo de Aragón and Pedrola (Ribera Alta del Ebro). The plants are adjacent to each other forming the cluster of Sarda-Bargas. The projects will occupy ca. 210 ha together. The EIA and the EIS point out some Natura 2000 sites, Zonas de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA) and Zonas Especiales de Conservación (ZEC) close to the project (c. 3km North of the PV plants) or directly affected by the project. In particular, a section of the evacuation line crosses the ZEPA “Monte Alto y Siete Cabezos” (ES2430086) for c. 4km, mostly affecting agricultural lands with a marginal impact to existing HICs (Habitats of Community Interest). The evacuation line will be buried underground.

The Ayora Solar PV cluster (5 PV plant for a total capacity of c. 202MWp) and its interconnection infrastructure are located in the province of Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha) and Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana), in the municipalities of Almansa and Ayora. The project will occupy ca. 600 ha. The EIA and the EIS point out some Natura 2000 sites, Zonas de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA) and Zonas Especiales de Conservación (ZEC) close to the project (c. 1.5 km closest distance) or directly affected by the project. In particular, a section of the evacuation line crosses the ZEPA “Meca-Mugrón-San Benito” (ES0000452). In this regard, the project has been modified in order to reduce the impact on the protected area through both the displacement of the aerial section of the evacuation line outside the ZEC and the burying of c. 2km line, which remains inside the ZEC.

The EIA reports include a Climate Vulnerability Assessment based on the projects’ preliminary design, with no significant vulnerability identified for any of the PV plants. Residual risks from physical climate hazards are deemed low.

The Promoter has engaged with the landowners and, for the vast majority of the plots, has reached voluntary agreements for the Project infrastructures in the form of leases and/or surface rights or rights of way. For the pieces of land where a voluntary agreement cannot be reached, the Promoter intends to require expropriation, in line with Spanish legislation.

Recent reports are pointing out the possibility of the use of forced labour in the supply chain of solar PV panels.

Spanish Power SL is an electric utility company in Madrid, Spain.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

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