Veolia allies with EDP to develop 4 MW solar at its TorrePET plant in Torremejía
Veolia, a leading company in decarbonization, circular economy and optimized resource management, has teamed up with EDP, the world's leading energy company in renewable energies, to commit to greater sustainability in its processes, starting up a new photovoltaic installation at Veolia's TorrePET plant. Located in the municipality of Torremejía (Badajoz), this recycling plant is dedicated to the production of food-grade recycled PET pellets of the highest quality.
This new photovoltaic facility, which is scheduled to start up in the first quarter of 2025, consists of 56,000 m2 and is made up of more than 6,000 photovoltaic modules, adding up to a total power of 4.039 MWp. Annual production will reach 28,930 MWh. This means a reduction in emissions of 3,500 tons of CO2 per year, which is the amount captured by 235,000 trees, and a saving of 24% in consumption. The plant will cover 25% of its energy needs.
According to José Luis Sáez, Veolia's TorrePET director, “These types of savings and efficiency measures also have a major impact on our customers, who are increasingly aware of the need to decarbonize and care for the planet. We currently have a leading position in the supply of rPet in Spain and accompany leading customers in the beverage sector such as mineral water and soft drinks on their path to sustainability, helping them to reduce their carbon footprint. As part of our environmental strategy, we are committed to cleaner and more efficient energy solutions, and thanks to suppliers such as EDP, we are strengthening our position in the market by promoting more environmentally responsible business models”.
Javier Flórez, Director of Key Accounts for EDP in Spain, said that “the selection of EDP for this project is a very important milestone, as it allows us to collaborate with a company Veolia, recognized for its commitment to the environment and the circular economy. Through this project it gains access to a competitive energy supply, reinforcing its long-term sustainability. We see this as recognition of EDP's dedication to sustainable energy saving and efficiency projects, and it reinforces our role as a key partner for the decarbonization processes implemented by our customers. This investment adds to our growing portfolio of solar generation for self-consumption in Spain”.
In this case, the contractual modality is known in the industry as “PPA onsite”, a model in which companies make no upfront investment and enjoy clean energy generated directly at their facilities. The entire cost of the solar photovoltaic self-consumption infrastructure, 100%, is assumed by EDP. As for the duration of the contract, it will be for 17 years, which allows the customer to stabilize its energy costs in the long term.
Self-consumption is one of the energy solutions with the greatest savings potential, both for companies and industries, as well as for households. In addition, solar panels are designed to have a long service life, 25 to 30 years on average. Although this duration is long, the amortization of the equipment is usually relatively fast due to the energy savings they generate, which makes the investment profitable in the long term.
Extremadura is one of the most privileged European regions for the installation of renewable energies. If Spain has, on average, 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, these figures soar in this autonomous community. Badajoz therefore enjoys 2,903 hours of sunshine per year, according to a study of solar potential carried out by EDP solar.
