Iberdrola Begins Construction Of Its First Photovoltaic Plant In California
- This plant includes 105,000 solar panels that will generate clean, emission-free energy for 14,000 US homes.
- This project supports the US energy transition, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
Iberdrola, through Avangrid, its subsidiary in the United States, has begun construction of the Camino Solar project in Kern Countru (California). The photovoltaic plant will have 105,000 solar panels and, with a capacity of 57 MW, will generate clean, emission-free energy for 14,000 US homes, a population similar to that of Arcos de la Frontera in Cadiz or Sitges in Barcelona.
The project supports the US energy transition, to clean energy, increasing reliability for the country's power grid, creating jobs, and boosting the local economy. Upon completion, this plant is expected to create over 100 jobs and several permanent jobs.
"This first PV installation joins the six wind farms already delivering clean energy in the state of California," said Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid. "This is another example of Iberdrola's commitment to developing projects that create jobs, support local communities and accelerate the transition to a decarbonised economy," he added.
Camino Solar is located in an area scientifically analysed and identified as suitable for renewable energies’ development. It is located next to Iberdrola's Manzana wind farm, with a capacity of 189 MW, which came into commercial operation in 2012.
Growth in the United States
Iberdrola is one of the three largest renewable energy operators in the United States, with 8,800 MW of emission-free installed capacity. The company is present in 25 states and manages 170,000 kilometres of power lines through eight utilities in New York, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts – supplying clean energy to a population of 7 million people.
The United States is the company's main investment focus within its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, to which it will allocate €41B. Particularly, the country will receive 35% of the investment, equivalent to €14.35B.
In addition, Iberdrola is the country's leading developer of offshore wind energy. On 27 March 2024, it submitted numerous proposals for new offshore wind energy in Massachusetts-Rhode Island-Connecticut. The states are expected to announce the selected projects in August 2024.
The company currently has the Vineyard Wind I farm under construction. With 806 MW of capacity, it is the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the country and will supply clean and reliable energy to 400,000 homes, which is more than half the size of a city like Boston or the entire island of Palma de Mallorca. In February, the energy company announced the commissioning of the first five turbines that will supply clean energy to 30,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
Source: Iberdrola