Spain’s Iberdrola secures third PPA for 391 MW Núñez de Balboa solar plant

Iberdrola has signed a PPA with Spain’s distribution group Uvesco (BM Supermarcados) for the supply of power from the 391 MW Nuñez de Balboa solar plant, which the company is scheduled to build in Usagre, near Badajoz, in the southern region of Extremadura.

The Spanish energy company has not provided details on the duration of the PPA, although it did say the agreement was a long-term one. “In the long-term, PPAs will rise as an instrumental tool in managing the power supply for large consumers who are committed to achieving green and sustainable consumption,” said CEO, Ángeles Santamaria.

The agreement, according to Iberdrola, will provide Uvesco with 100% of renewable energy.

The first PPA for the Nuñez de Balboa was signed with financial services provider Kutxabank in July. Later in mid-October, Iberdrola bagged its second PPA for the project from Spanish and Basque country-based telecoms company Euskatel.

The project was initiated by Spanish developer Grupo Eco in 2012. It entails the construction of a substation with a 30/400 kV capacity and a 12.3 km, 400 kV transmission line. According to a document published in Spain’s official journal, the solar plant is expected to produce around 850 GWh per year.

The first PPA for a solar project was announced in December of last year. Since then, the amount of closed PPAs in the large-scale PV segment has significantly increased, having reached more than 1.5 GW, according to provisional figures released by Spanish solar association UNEF.