Incarlopsa starts up two solar self-consumption plants at the Tarancón and Olías del Rey dryers

24.01.2022
  • At the Tarancón facility, 2,750 photovoltaic modules attached to 11,000 m2 of roof will supply 1.2 MWp of power. The one in Olías del Rey has around 5,000 modules installed on an area two times bigger, which will provide 2.2 MWp of power.
  • Both projects are part of one of the most important self-consumption initiatives in Spain and in the food sector, which includes the installation of a total power of 9.60 MWp and some 14 GWh of annual production in the three drying sheds and the processing factory that Incarlopsa has in Castilla-La Mancha.
  • The initiative is part of Incarlopsa is long-term sustainable development model and will contribute to reducing its carbon footprint by 3,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, using one of the most innovative technologies in this type of energy: self-attaching panels that are placed directly on to the roof.

 

Incarlopsa, the leading Castilla La Mancha company in the production and processing of pork products, has completed the installation of a solar self-consumption plant in two of its drying sheds, one located in Tarancón (Cuenca) and the other in Olías del Rey (Toledo), in collaboration with Endesa X. In the former, the company has installed a solar self-consumption at the Tarancón plant (Cuenca) and the Olías del Rey plant (Toledo).

The first of these plants features 2,700 photovoltaic modules on more than 11,000 square metre roof that will provide a power of 1.2 MWp. The clean energy generated will cover 26% of the meat dryer’s energy demand. The facility started operating on 19 November.

The Olías del Rey project has around 5,000 photovoltaic modules that have been mounted on approximately twice the surface area (around 22,000 square metros of roof) and provide a power output of 2.2 MWp. The expected energy coverage of this plant is 23%. It has been operational since 23 December. 

Both projects are part of a more ambitious initiative that includes the installation of solar self-consumption plants in another of Incarlopsa’s meat drying plants in Castilla-La Mancha, located in Corral de Almaguer (Toledo), and in the processing factory located in Tarancón (Cuenca) .

This is one of the largest self-consumption projects in Spain and in the agri-food sector. In total, it is projected to have 9.60 MWp of power and around 14 GWh of annual production dedicated entirely to self-consumption, which will cover up to 11% of the energy the company needs for its production processes with clean, renewable energy.

This initiative will enable Incarlopsa to reduce its carbon footprint by 3,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, because the clean, renewable energy generated by these solar panels will be used entirely to meet its own power demand.

“The commissioning of these installations is an example of the process of decarbonization and reduction of GhG emissions that the company has initiated, as part of its commitment to a long-term sustainable development model in which innovation plays a key role,” explains Victorino Carabantes, general manager of Incarlopsa.

“The commitment of large companies to climate change is clear. The photovoltaic systems we have deployed for Incarlopsa are essential to reduce CO2 emissions from its production activity and represent the best technology on the market for self-production of energy from renewable sources. In order to create value, it is also necessary to adopt environmentally friendly behavior. Endesa X plays a leading role in this respect thanks to its know-how in decarbonization and energy efficiency processes”, claims Davide Ciciliato, CEO of Endesa X.

Cutting-edge technology to protect the specific characteristics of the installations 

The global project includes the installation of a total of 21,000 photovoltaic modules on the roofs of the three meat dryers and the meat processing plant that Incarlopsa has in Castilla-La Mancha using cutting-edge technology: the 46,000 square meter area, the size of 6 football fields, will be covered using an adhesive solution that is applied directly on to the surface without the need for drilling.

The perfect solution to guarantee the maintenance of the indoor environmental conditions of each facility, essential to preserve all the properties of the curing process of the hams in the drying sheds. In addition, shadow areas will be avoided and panels will be intercalated with maintenance corridors, allowing the installation to be kept in perfect condition for the next 20 years.