100MW! The largest photovoltaic project in the Basque Country, Spain, has been approved!

Iberdrola, in partnership with the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), the Provincial Council of Álava and Krean (part of the Mondragon Group), is leading the largest photovoltaic project to date in the Basque Country. The project, called the Equina Photovoltaic Park, is located in La Cozana, in the municipality of Aminón, Álava.

In January 2024, the final approval of the special plan for the project was published in the Official Gazette of the Historic Territory of Álava (BOTHA). The project is promoted by a public-private partnership under the umbrella of Equina, which includes Euskadi (Iberdrola), the Basque Energy Agency (Basque Government), Alaba (Provincial Council of Álava) and LKS Krean through LKS Energia Bailey (Mondragon Group).

With an installed capacity of 100 MW, the Equinaia Photovoltaic Park will be the largest solar  energy power plant in the Basque Country. The project is located in La Cozana, an area with the best solar resources, and also benefits from good topographical features and sufficient land for its implementation. The project covers an area of ​​200 hectares, half of which will house the photovoltaic power plant and the other half will be used for environmental compensation and the protection of forest areas.

The planning process for this special program began in 2020 and included a general strategic environmental assessment. The project includes various corrective and compensatory measures outlined in the strategic environmental study. These measures include an agricultural project to compensate for the use of high-value agricultural land, an archaeological study to protect areas of archaeological interest, and a faunal study that includes the construction of ponds for amphibians. In addition, the project includes a comprehensive environmental restoration proposal that envisions the creation of a naturalized zone that will serve as an ecological corridor between the La Colzana lagoon and the banks of the Zadora River.