Thanks to the financing provided by BBVA, BNP Paribas, CA-CIB and ING Light source bp will be the organization responsible for the construction 248 MWp of solar energy in its Guillena project, based in Seville, expected to be completed in 2026.
Light source bp, a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects, has successfully achieved financial close for the construction of the Guillena project, a cluster consisting of five solar power plants in Andalusiaspecifically in the municipalities of Guillena, Burguillos and Alcalá del Río (Seville), for a total capacity of 248 MWp. The company closed the operation with the support of BBVA, BNP Paribas, CA-CIB and ING, for a total amount of 175 million euros.
Light source bp and solar energy
Construction, which will begin in October this year, will be carried out in partnership with Cox, which will provide engineering and procurement services. Once operational, the Guillena project’s factories will have more than 515,000 MWh of clean energyenough to provide the equivalent of approximately 132,000 homes. This renewable electricity generation will help prevent nearly 77,000 tons of emissions CO2 per year, which equates to taking more than 60,000 cars off the road.
In addition, the construction of this project will contribute to the development of the local economy, increasing the arrival of new investments to the autonomous community, accumulating additional local taxes and increasing the creating jobs in the areas where the photovoltaic installations are located.
In concrete terms, the Guillena project will promote the creation of local employment, both during the both in the construction phase and in the operation phasefor an estimated total of 350, plus 8 million euros in local taxes.
Juan Luis Cantón, head of country Light source bp Spain has emphasized that “we are very pleased with this milestone which marks the beginning of a new phase of expansion for the company in Spain. In addition to the Guillena cluster, we have a portfolio of more than 1 GW of authorized solar projects which we hope to achieve within the next two years.”
Cantón added that, “given the highly competitive environment we find ourselves in in Spain, operations like this once again demonstrate the quality of our projects, while decarbonization and environmental conservation”.
Nicolas Guillemont, senior director of structured finance in Light source bp added that “we are proud to have reached the financial close of the Guillena project. This operation demonstrates our team’s ability to execute tailor-made financing solutionsadapted to the needs of the company, and to strengthen our collaboration with top partners.
Involvement in the local environment and biodiversity
Light source bp is committed to every project preserving biodiversity through a range of tailor-made initiatives. In this case, the Guillena project has included environmental integration measures based, among other things, on an annual study of the bird life in this environment, making it possible to select the location of the solar power plants on land compatible with birds and a calendar to be determined. . start of the works, avoiding the breeding season of endangered birds.
In the perimeter area of the parks a permeable fence for wild animalswhich will allow the passage of animals and create new shelters for reptiles, as well as a plant screen with native species on the edge of the photovoltaic installations.
This will also promote their integration into the landscape, preventing electrical installations and substations from being visible from nearby roads and highways. They will be installed the same way devices save birds in evacuation lines to avoid the impact of collisions with birds in the area.
On the other hand, the company will implement other specific measures for the agri-environmental management of rain-fed crops by entering into agreements with local landowners to improve the habitat of steppe birds.
In the same way, the free areas within the photovoltaic installations will be re-naturalized, with the aim protect the soil and increase biodiversityand environmental monitoring will take place both during the works and during the operation of the solar power plants and associated lines.
It is expected that this solar energy project will not only be a source of green jobs in the Seville area, but also function without affecting the environment and preserving and protecting the biodiversity local.