TotalEnergies and Soltec to build La Cerámica solar plant in the Valencian Community

• The plant, which already holds the Preliminary Administrative Authorization, will be built between the municipalities of Agost and Monforte del Cid in the Community
• It will have 94 MW of installed capacity, avoiding the emission of more than 1,500,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over its 30-year useful life.
• Environmental improvements built into the project include measures to protect birdlife and restore native vegetation and crops.

TotalEnergies, multi-energy company, and Soltec, vertically integrated photovoltaic company, advance their first solar project in the Valencian Community. La Cerámica, which has recently obtained the Preliminary Administrative Authorization (AAP), will be built between the municipalities of Agost and Monforte del Cid, requiring an initial investment of more than 50 million euros. The 94 MW co-developed project — with TotalEnergies holding 65% and Soltec 35% — will drive the creation of more than 130 direct and indirect jobs during construction and will avoid the emission of more than 1,500,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over its 30-year useful life.

Both companies have developed several environmental protection measures as social and environmental guarantees, included within the project’s Environmental and Landscape Integration Plan. In coming months, a preliminary fauna and flora survey will be carried out to tailor restoration and native-species preservation techniques, ensuring full compatibility between the installation and the area’s biodiversity.

The project design excludes forest land affected by wildfires, where native vegetation restoration work will be carried out; it also includes transplanting 425 olive trees, planting 10 hectares of legumes, restoring springs and creating islands to support wildlife movement.

Regarding fauna, anti-collision measures will be installed on power lines and fencing, birdlife breeding season will be taken into account when starting works, and three ponds will be created to support various amphibian species, among other measures.

Yago Mancebo, general manager of TotalEnergies Renovables Ibérica, said: “At TotalEnergies, ensuring that our solar park development is fully compatible with protecting the biodiversity of the areas where they’re built is a priority and a hallmark. Corporate responsibility is key to meeting decarbonization goals while directly benefiting local economies and their surroundings, as we plan to do with La Cerámica.”

“The Levante region overall, and the Comunitat Valenciana in particular, keep proving to be a strong, key geography for decarbonizing Spain and Europe. We’re proud to be part of this Community’s clean present and future, and to actively take part in projects where biodiversity and communities hold a central place. We’ll keep working with TotalEnergies as a top-tier partner to invest decisively in projects that benefit all Valencians,” said Raúl Morales, CEO of Soltec.

With this Preliminary Administrative Authorization, TotalEnergies and Soltec advance the plants jointly planned in the Levante area, adding to other milestones reached in recent months. In January, both companies obtained favorable Environmental Impact Declarations (DIA) for five projects in Murcia, a milestone followed by the groundbreaking of the Los Valientes plant in the municipality of Molina de Segura, and the Preliminary Administrative Authorizations (AAP) for 290 MW of photovoltaic capacity at the Luminora Solar Dos and Tres plants.

Once completed, La Cerámica also aims to contribute to the socioeconomic development of nearby municipalities through initiatives to reduce electricity bills, involve citizens in the project, and boost local employment and commercial activity.