Capital Energy has signed the first agreement with the Montealegre Town Council linked to its Territories Project in Castile-La Mancha

The agreement is tied to the development of the La Herrada wind farm, which will have a capacity of 51 MW and which the company will build in this town in Albacete 

• This initiative combines the company’s contribution to the decarbonisation of the economy and the transformation of the energy model, by implementing renewable energy facilities, with its desire to help foster the development of the regions, harnessing local talent and nurturing their social, industrial and business fabric 
• La Herrada, which will mobilise an investment of some 53 million euros and create over 170 direct jobs during the peak periods of its construction, will contribute almost 1.4 million euros per year to the GDP throughout its useful life and make an annual tax contribution of more than 150,000 euros to the local coffers 

Albacete, 11 January 2023.- Capital Energy, a Spanish energy company founded two decades ago with the aim of becoming the Iberian Peninsula’s first vertically integrated, fully renewable operator, evidences its commitment to the socio-economic development of Castile-La Mancha, a key region for the implementation of its clean energy project. 

The Company and the Municipal Government of Montealegre del Castillo have signed the first collaboration agreement in the region pursuant to its Territories Project. The project combines Capital Energy’s contribution to the decarbonisation of the economy and the transformation of the energy model with its desire to help foster growth in Spain’s regions, harnessing local talent and nurturing each area’s social, industrial and business fabric. 

Under this agreement, from the construction of its La Herrada wind farm, Capital Energy undertakes to foster various actions agreed between the parties and which will be adapted to the needs of this town in the Albacete province. These initiatives will be implemented within the framework of specific action lines, including the improvement of infrastructure and services, connectivity and digitalisation, protection of artistic and cultural heritage, education, health and socio-occupational integration of disadvantaged groups.  

In fact, some beneficial proposals are already being weighed up for the people of Montealegre del Castillo, such as improving communications with the rural area to the south of the municipality and, specifically, the road linking the municipality with the neighbouring town of Ontur.   

Likewise, the collaboration between the local government and the renewable energy group will persist in the operating and maintenance phase of this infrastructure asset, as they will continue to carry out initiatives that fulfil the aforementioned requirements. These agreements re-affirm all the parties’ commitment to contribute to the sustainable development of Monteleagre del Castillo, through actions that guarantee an effective improvement of the environment and the quality of life of its residents. 

La Herrada will have an access power of 51 megawatts (MW) and its construction, which is slated to begin in February, will involve an investment of approximately 53 million euros. This wind farm will be capable of generating 149,000 megawatt hours (MWh) annually, which is enough to satisfy the consumption of close to 56,000 households in Castile-La Mancha with clean electricity. It will also avoid the emission of approximately 55,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. 

The construction of this renewable infrastructure will result in the creation of more than 170 direct jobs during peak construction periods. During the operating and maintenance phase, it is expected to provide stable employment to seven professionals from the area and to also help generate around six indirect jobs.  

La Herrada will also, throughout its useful life, contribute the equivalent of 1.4 million euros per year to GDP and over 150,000 euros in annual tax to the local coffers. In addition to this recurring sum is the one-off payment of local building tax (ICIO) and other taxes, which could exceed one million euros. 

It is worth highlighting that Capital Energy has recently signed a sales contract with Siemens Gamesa for the ten SG 5.0 - 145 turbines of 5.2 MW of unitary power installed in this wind farm in Albacete, which will be delivered this year. In parallel, both companies have also entered into a full after-sales service agreement for the monitoring and preventive and corrective maintenance of the abovementioned machines for a period of 20 years, which can be extended for a further five years. 

This contract will have a major knock-on effect on Spanish industry, given that many of the wind turbines will be built at the supplier’s various factories in Spain: the 10 nacelles will be assembled at the Ágreda plant (Soria), the gearbox will be produced at the facilities in Asteasu (Guipúzcoa), Lerma (Burgos) and the city of Burgos, and the electrical components at the factories in Reinosa (Cantabria), San Fernando de Henares (Madrid) and Benisanó (Valencia). 

The Territories Project, a differential value

Through the Territories Project, Capital Energy is keen to articulate its commitment to sustainable development, become a neighbour in the regions where it operates and contribute to their social and economic growth.

To achieve this, the enterprise is committed to allocating specific financial items during the construction and operation phases of its renewable energy facilities to implementing the actions agreed to with the different local stakeholders. This different approach will see the group consider the specificities and needs of each region in the selection of initiatives.

Through these actions, Capital Energy aims to pair the development of its renewable energy projects in Spain and Portugal with the launch of social and environmental action programmes pivoted to local needs to fully leverage its contribution to the socioeconomic progress of the places where it operates.

About Capital Energy

In line with its commitment to a green and fair energy transition, Capital Energy currently has a wind and solar portfolio on the Iberian Peninsula of over 30 gigawatts (GW) of power, with more than 8.5 GW already awarded grid access permits.

Capital Energy has achieved its strategic goal of being present along the entire value chain of renewable generation: from design, where the enterprise has a consolidated position thanks to its 20-year track record, to construction, production, storage, operation and supply. The company has 15 offices in Spain and Portugal, with almost 360 employees.