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The Fuengirola Solar Park will avoid emitting over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 a year into the atmosphere

That’s the equivalent to one vehicle travelling for over 3 million kilometres. Fuengirola once again at the forefront of environmental issues and renewable energies

October 24, 2009 // Fuengirola (Spain)
Author: Diario de Torremolinos

The leader of Fuengirola council, Esperanza Oña, accompanied by a representative from the company SICE, Ramón Granja, today reported on the environmental initiative that will provide Fuengirola with an extensive network of solar-power panels installed on the roofs of various municipal buildings.

The work to set up the Solar Park will be completed in four months, requiring an investment of five million euros. This photovoltaic system will feed the grid in real time with power equivalent to the annual consumption of 304 homes.

Fuengirola is the first town in Andalusia to "rent" the roofs of municipal buildings for the installation of solar panels, with the first phase set to cover an area of nearly 14,000 square metres.

Esperanza Oña explained that "the council team told the electorate that were committed to setting up solar parks in the town, and we have met that commitment,” adding that “we are launching this project convinced that it is a step forward involving a major investment to contribute towards protecting our environment.”

The panels will be installed in two phases on the roofs of such municipal buildings as the operational services centre, fire station, drugs centre, local police station, cineplex, municipal library, cultural centre, Juan Gómez Juanito Pavilion and the council offices in Los Boliches.

The first stage of the works will begin on 5 November and last until February.

In all 2,743 solar panels will be installed, achieving an estimated annual output of 1,013,371 KWh.

Esperanza Oña said that the council had "rented out" these spaces for 35 years to the company SICE, which won the public call for tenders convened in 2008.

In return, the council will receive a six-monthly payment corresponding to 12 per cent of the profits earned by the concessionaire for selling the power produced to electricity companies.

According to the council leader, Fuengirola "is also a Pioneer in the installation of solar panels in new buildings, since the council now makes them compulsory under the new Urban Development Plan (PGOU).