Iberdrola begins installation of modules at Camino Solar (California)

Iberdrola, through Avangrid, its subsidiary in the United States, has begun installing the first of the 105,000 solar modules that will make up the Camino Solar photovoltaic farm in California. With a capacity of 57 MW, Camino Solar is expected to generate the same amount of energy consumed by some 14,000 US families per year, which is similar to the population of Miranda de Ebro, in Burgos. 

This project demonstrates Iberdrola's commitment to increasing renewable capacity in the United States. Solar power complements the company's large wind fleet in the country with the aim of accelerating the transition to a clean economy independent of fossil fuels. 

The Camino project is expected to create around 100 jobs during construction, mostly local, and generate around 15 million dollars (more than 13.5 million euros) in state and local taxes over its lifetime. 

This new photovoltaic plant is located next to Iberdrola's Manzana wind farm, which has been injecting 189 MW of renewable energy into the country since 2012. When construction is completed, Camino will become the tenth solar project in the company's portfolio in the United States and the first in California. 

Boosting renewables in the United States 

Iberdrola has six other wind power projects in California, ranging from San Diego County to the Bay Area, with a combined operating capacity of more than 500 MW. These wind farms have generated a total of 88 million dollars in property taxes at the end of last year, supporting a variety of local utilities. The company recently surpassed 9 GW of installed capacity across its portfolio of projects spread across nearly half of the country. 

Late last week, Iberdrola was awarded a 791 MW contract to build the New England Wind 1 offshore wind farm. When operational, the facility will provide clean, emission-free power to 400,000 homes, which is more than the population of Malaga and Bilbao combined. The new farm will border Vineyard Wind 1, the country's first large-scale offshore wind project, currently under construction by the company 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard, which will generate electricity for more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the state of Massachusetts.