Date Published: 24/04/2024

New Jumilla solar farm will generate electricity to power 21,000 homes

The groundbreaking photovoltaic plant will be situated between Jumilla, Yecla and Fuente Álamo

Boasting an impressive capacity of nearly 50 megawatts, the state-of-the-art Cerrillares I Photovoltaic Plant stands in the triangle where Jumilla, Yecla and Fuente Álamo converge. Generating approximately 80 gigawatt hours annually, this clean energy titan matches the electricity consumption of 21,000 households, marking a monumental stride forward in sustainable practices in the area.

Occupying a sprawling 95-hectare expanse, the solar farm features technologically advanced bifacial solar panels rated at 650 watts peak, earning recognition as one of the largest installations in the Region of Murcia.

Behind its development lies a sizeable investment of more than 30 million euros from Italian energy firm ENI Plenitude, and its installation will result in the creation of around 200 jobs during its construction phase. Post-construction, a smaller team will remain employed for ongoing maintenance duties, continuing to stimulate the local economy.

Going forward, the plant will continue to contribute to the financial revitalisation of the area by generating income from local taxes and fees.

The mayor of Jumilla, Seve González, accompanied by the Minister of Environment and Research, Juan María Vázquez, and the general director of Energy of CARM, visited the facilities of the Cerrillares I solar farm this week, and explained that: “This represents the commitment of all those involved to prioritise a more sustainable future, taking advantage of the characteristics of our territory in terms of hours of sunshine.”

Seve González added: “Its construction and commissioning has been a great boost for the economic development of Jumilla due to the policy of hiring local companies and workers that ENI Plenitude has followed.”

The new plant has been installed near an operating wind farm, taking advantage of access roads and paths and minimizing the impact on the adjacent plots. And in order to protect the natural environment and to avoid disturbing nesting species, the construction teams have erected structures like bat shelters and amphibian ponds.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Jumilla Today

Images: Ayuntamiento de Jumilla

Address

Plaza del Rollo, 1 30520 JUMILLA

Tel: 968 780237 / 663 300779

Oficina de Turismo Jumilla

The tourist office in the centre of Jumilla is easily found by driving straight into the centre of the town along the Avenida de Murcia and following the signposts. The tourist office is alongside the Parque de Don Albano Martínez Molina, where there are a number of parking spaces.

Jumilla, in the north of the Region of Murcia, has become internationally famous over recent decades due to the quality of the wines produced in the municipality, and wine tourism has begun to attract visitors from other parts of Spain and the rest of Europe.

The tourist office is happy to provide a range of maps and leaflets showing the different bodegas which can be visited within the municipality. Some of these form part of the Rutas del Vino de Jumilla, the Jumilla wine route, and can either be visited as a guided tour or sell their produce directly to the public.(see feed below for more details)

However, the town and the surrounding countryside have plenty of other attractions for visitors, and the popularity of Jumilla wines is leading more and more people to discover other facets of the tenth largest municipality in Spain.

Jumilla Tourist Office

These include the spectacular countryside and birdlife in the Sierra del Carche, the historic remains which range from cave paintings and a Roman mausoleum to the castle, the Iglesia de Santiago, the Town Hall and the Teatro Vico, and the gastronomy: rich stews are accompanied not only by the wines of the area but also by Jumilla pears, which also enjoy Denomination of Origin status.

Tourism in Jumilla is not as seasonal as it is in the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia, but the town is at its liveliest during the fiestas in Holy Week and the August Fair, which incorporates the grape harvest celebrations and the Moors and Christians parades.

The Altiplano of the Region of Murcia, which consists of the municipalities of Jumilla and Yecla, is only just over an hour by car from the Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón, Torrevieja and Alicante, and anyone wishing to visit real inland Spain and world-class wineries is advised to include Jumilla in their schedule.