Latest news with #Greenalia
The Star
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
A ‘crime' against the olive groves
AT his farm in southern Spain, Francisco Campos looked worriedly at a green sea of centuries-old olive trees that he fears will face the axe to make way for a proposed solar park. 'Cutting down olive trees to install solar panels is a crime,' said the 64-year-old farmer in Lopera, a town of whitewashed buildings with 3,600 residents in the sunny southern region of Andalusia, Spain's olive-growing heartland. Spain is the world's top producer of olive oil, but the fertile agricultural land long used by olive producers is now in high demand from power firms looking to install solar farms. And with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Andalusia is one of the Spanish regions with the highest number of solar panels as a renewables boom makes the country a European leader in green energy. Renewable energy firms such as Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas have requested permission to build multiple solar farms near Lopera, which farmers say will affect up to 1,000ha of property. The businesses negotiated agreements to lease the bulk of the land required for their projects but encountered significant opposition from hundreds of small landowners. This prompted the regional government of Andalusia to announce it will expropriate some land needed for the plants, declaring them to be in 'the public interest'. An olive tree stump seen at a project site designated for the installation of photovoltaic plants in Lopera, near Jaen. — AFP 'Is it in the public interest for them to take my land and give it to a company so that the company can profit? This has no benefit for us,' said Campos. 'Our way of life is going to be destroyed,' he added. Campaigners predict that the eight solar projects planned for the area will require the removal of nearly 100,000 olive trees. The regional government puts the figure significantly lower at 13,000. Local residents had anticipated that power companies would seek to install solar panels in the area, but they never imagined 'they would come and take away your property', said Rafael Alcala, a spokesperson for a platform that represents the solar plants' opponents. In support of landowners impacted by the latest round of expropriations, dozens of farmers on tractors – some holding signs that read 'We don't want solar plants' – gathered on a recent morning outside Lopera. 'These lands come from our ancestors. What am I going to leave to my children now?' Maria Josefa Palomo, a 67-year-old pensioner, said at the protest. Campaigners say 5,000 olive trees have already been uprooted from land belonging to a farmer in Lopera who signed an agreement with one of the firms behind a solar park. More could follow. Proof of excavation work near olive trees at the site where photovoltaic plants are to be installed in Lopera, near Jaen. — AFP In an effort to stop the projects, opponents have filed lawsuits against the regional government and the companies involved. Spain generated a record 56.8% of its electricity last year from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to grid operator Red Electrica. Leveraging on its sunny plains, windy hillsides and fast-flowing rivers, Spain intends to raise the share of renewable-generated electricity to 81% of the total by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The regional government has defended the renewables projects, saying less than 1% of the land they use in the region had to be expropriated from reluctant landowners. A field where olive trees have been uprooted from to make way for the installation of photovoltaic plants in Lopera, near Jaen. — AFP Spanish solar industry group UNEF, which represents more than 800 companies, says the projects boost tax revenues in rural communities. They generate 'significant amounts' that can be used to improve public services, said UNEF head Jose Donoso. Solar park opponents in Lopera disagree and vow to continue their fight. 'Until the end. Nobody is going to take what is ours away from us,' said Juan Cantera, a 28-year-old farmer. 'Olive oil is everything in Lopera.' — AFP
Daily Tribune
15-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Solar park boom threatens Spain's centuries-old olive
At his farm in southern Spain, Francisco Campos looked worriedly at a green sea of centuries-old olive trees that he fears will face the axe to make way for a proposed solar park. 'Cutting down olive trees to install solar panels is a crime,' the 64-year-old farmer told AFP in Lopera, a town of whitewashed buildings with 3,600 residents in the sunny southern region of Andalusia, Spain's olive-growing heartland. Spain is the world's top producer of olive oil, but the fertile agricultural land long used by olive producers is now in high demand from power firms looking to install solar farms. And with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Andalusia is one of the Spanish regions with the highest number of solar panels as a renewables boom makes the country a European leader in green energy. Renewable energy firms such as Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas have requested permission to build multiple solar farms near Lopera, which farmers say will affect up to 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of property. The businesses negotiated agreements to lease the bulk of the land required for their projects but encountered significant opposition from hundreds of small landowners. This prompted the regional government of Andalusia to announce it will expropriate some land needed for the plants, declaring them to be in 'the public interest'. 'Is it in the public interest for them to take my land and give it to a company so that the company can profit? This has no benefit for us,' said Campos. 'Our way of life is going to be destroyed,' he added. 'From our ancestors' Campaigners pre - dict that the eight solar projects planned for the area will require the removal of nearly 100,000 olive trees. The regional govern - ment puts the figure significantly lower, at 13,000. Local residents anticipated power companies would seek to install solar panels in the area, but they never imagined 'they would come and take away your property,' said Rafael Alcala, a spokesman for a platform that represents the solar plants' support of landowners impacted by the latest round of expropriations, dozens of farmers on tractors -- some holding signs that read 'We don't want solar plants' -- gathered on a recent morning outside Lopera. 'These lands come from our ancestors. What am I going to leave to my children now?' Maria Josefa Palomo, a 67-year-old pensioner, said at the protest. Losing 500 hectares of olive groves would wipe out more than two million euros ($2.3 million) in annual revenues, according to local olive oil cooperative La Loperana. Campaigners say 5,000 olive trees have already been uprooted from land belonging to a farmer in Lopera who signed an agreement with one of the firms behind a solar park. More could follow. In an effort to stop the projects, opponents have filed lawsuits against the regional government and the companies involved. 'Until the end' Spain generated a record 56.8 percent of its electricity last year from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to grid operator Red Electrica. Leveraging on its sunny plains, windy hillsides and fast-flowing rivers, Spain intends to raise the share of renewable-generated electricity to 81 percent of the total by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The regional government has defended the renewables projects, saying less than one percent of the land they use in the region had to be expropriated from reluctant landowners. Spanish solar industry group UNEF, which represents more than 800 companies, says the projects boost tax revenues in rural communities. They generate 'significant amounts' that can be used to improve public services, said UNEF head Jose Donoso. Solar park opponents in Lopera disagree and vow to continue their fight. 'Until the end. Nobody is going to take what is ours away from us,' said Juan Cantera, a 28-year-old farmer. 'Olive oil is everything in Lopera'.
Local Spain
14-04-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
'It's a crime': Solar park boom threatens Spain's olive tree growers
At his farm in southern Spain, Francisco Campos looked worriedly at a green sea of centuries-old olive trees that he fears will face the axe to make way for a proposed solar park. "Cutting down olive trees to install solar panels is a crime," the 64-year-old farmer told AFP in Lopera, a town of whitewashed buildings with 3,600 residents in the sunny southern region of Andalusia, Spain's olive-growing heartland. Spain is the world's top producer of olive oil, but the fertile agricultural land long used by olive producers is now in high demand from power firms looking to install solar farms. And with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Andalusia is one of the Spanish regions with the highest number of solar panels as a renewables boom makes the country a European leader in green energy. Renewable energy firms such as Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas have requested permission to build multiple solar farms near Lopera, which farmers say will affect up to 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of property. The businesses negotiated agreements to lease the bulk of the land required for their projects but encountered significant opposition from hundreds of small landowners. This prompted the regional government of Andalusia to announce it will expropriate some land needed for the plants, declaring them to be in "the public interest". "Is it in the public interest for them to take my land and give it to a company so that the company can profit? This has no benefit for us," said Campos. "Our way of life is going to be destroyed," he added. 'From our ancestors' Campaigners predict that the eight solar projects planned for the area will require the removal of nearly 100,000 olive trees. The regional government puts the figure significantly lower, at 13,000. Local residents anticipated power companies would seek to install solar panels in the area, but they never imagined "they would come and take away your property," said Rafael Alcala, a spokesman for a platform that represents the solar plants' opponents. In support of landowners impacted by the latest round of expropriations, dozens of farmers on tractors -- some holding signs that read "We don't want solar plants" -- gathered on a recent morning outside Lopera. "These lands come from our ancestors. What am I going to leave to my children now?" María Josefa Palomo, a 67-year-old pensioner, said at the protest. Olive trees owners demonstrate to save their olive trees and against expropriation amid a project to install photovoltaic plants in Lopera, near Jaen, on March, 24, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP) Olive trees owners demonstrate to save their olive trees and against expropriation amid a project to install photovoltaic plants in Lopera, near Jaen, on March, 24, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP) Losing 500 hectares of olive groves would wipe out more than two million euros ($2.3 million) in annual revenues, according to local olive oil cooperative La Loperana. Campaigners say 5,000 olive trees have already been uprooted from land belonging to a farmer in Lopera who signed an agreement with one of the firms behind a solar park. More could follow. In an effort to stop the projects, opponents have filed lawsuits against the regional government and the companies involved. 'Until the end' Spain generated a record 56.8 percent of its electricity last year from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to grid operator Red Electrica. Leveraging on its sunny plains, windy hillsides and fast-flowing rivers, Spain intends to raise the share of renewable-generated electricity to 81 percent of the total by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The regional government has defended the renewables projects, saying less than one percent of the land they use in the region had to be expropriated from reluctant landowners. Spanish solar industry group UNEF, which represents more than 800 companies, says the projects boost tax revenues in rural communities. They generate "significant amounts" that can be used to improve public services, said UNEF head Jose Donoso. Solar park opponents in Lopera disagree and vow to continue their fight. "Until the end. Nobody is going to take what is ours away from us," said Juan Cantera, a 28-year-old farmer. "Olive oil is everything in Lopera".
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solar park boom threatens Spain's centuries-old olive trees
At his farm in southern Spain, Francisco Campos looked worriedly at a green sea of centuries-old olive trees that he fears will face the axe to make way for a proposed solar park. "Cutting down olive trees to install solar panels is a crime," the 64-year-old farmer told AFP in Lopera, a town of whitewashed buildings with 3,600 residents in the sunny southern region of Andalusia, Spain's olive-growing heartland. Spain is the world's top producer of olive oil, but the fertile agricultural land long used by olive producers is now in high demand from power firms looking to install solar farms. And with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Andalusia is one of the Spanish regions with the highest number of solar panels as a renewables boom makes the country a European leader in green energy. Renewable energy firms such as Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas have requested permission to build multiple solar farms near Lopera, which farmers say will affect up to 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of property. The businesses negotiated agreements to lease the bulk of the land required for their projects but encountered significant opposition from hundreds of small landowners. This prompted the regional government of Andalusia to announce it will expropriate some land needed for the plants, declaring them to be in "the public interest". "Is it in the public interest for them to take my land and give it to a company so that the company can profit? This has no benefit for us," said Campos. "Our way of life is going to be destroyed," he added. - 'From our ancestors' - Campaigners predict that the eight solar projects planned for the area will require the removal of nearly 100,000 olive trees. The regional government puts the figure significantly lower, at 13,000. Local residents anticipated power companies would seek to install solar panels in the area, but they never imagined "they would come and take away your property," said Rafael Alcala, a spokesman for a platform that represents the solar plants' opponents. In support of landowners impacted by the latest round of expropriations, dozens of farmers on tractors -- some holding signs that read "We don't want solar plants" -- gathered on a recent morning outside Lopera. "These lands come from our ancestors. What am I going to leave to my children now?" Maria Josefa Palomo, a 67-year-old pensioner, said at the protest. Losing 500 hectares of olive groves would wipe out more than two million euros ($2.3 million) in annual revenues, according to local olive oil cooperative La Loperana. Campaigners say 5,000 olive trees have already been uprooted from land belonging to a farmer in Lopera who signed an agreement with one of the firms behind a solar park. More could follow. In an effort to stop the projects, opponents have filed lawsuits against the regional government and the companies involved. - 'Until the end' - Spain generated a record 56.8 percent of its electricity last year from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to grid operator Red Electrica. Leveraging on its sunny plains, windy hillsides and fast-flowing rivers, Spain intends to raise the share of renewable-generated electricity to 81 percent of the total by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The regional government has defended the renewables projects, saying less than one percent of the land they use in the region had to be expropriated from reluctant landowners. Spanish solar industry group UNEF, which represents more than 800 companies, says the projects boost tax revenues in rural communities. They generate "significant amounts" that can be used to improve public services, said UNEF head Jose Donoso. Solar park opponents in Lopera disagree and vow to continue their fight. "Until the end. Nobody is going to take what is ours away from us," said Juan Cantera, a 28-year-old farmer. "Olive oil is everything in Lopera". rs/ds/imm/gv/tym
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MUFG and Nomura provide $388m for Greenalia's solar Misae II in Texas
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Nomura Securities International have announced a $388m financing package for Greenalia's Misae Solar Park II (Misae II) in the US state of Texas. The package includes a $295m construction-to-term loan and a $93m letter of credit facility. Misae II is Greenalia's first US development, and marks a significant step in renewable energy expansion. The 3,970-acre site in Childress County will be one of Texas's largest solar developments. The project will feature a 430 megawatts direct current /331.6 megawatts alternating current photovoltaic system and is expected to reach commercial operation by the third quarter of 2025. MUFG managing director and project finance lead Louise Pesce stated: "We're thrilled to support Greenalia by leading this complex and successful transaction. "Greenalia's innovation and MUFG's expertise will help the state of Texas increase energy capacity with renewable solar power." MUFG and Nomura acted as co-ordinating lead arrangers and bookrunners, with MUFG also serving as the administrative agent. The project benefits from two ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) West-settled power purchase agreements for 65% of its energy output and renewable energy certificates (RECs). The remaining 35% of energy will be sold in the merchant ERCOT market. Greenalia CEO Manuel Garcia stated: "This transaction is a major step for Greenalia's US expansion. With the help of MUFG and Nomura, we are on track to reach 1GW of operational projects by 2026." Misae II has secured a fixed-price production tax credit transfer agreement and a separate fixed-price agreement for 40% of its RECs. In a related development, Adapture Renewables has secured $321m in financing from MUFG for the construction of the 441MW Titanium solar portfolio in the US. The financing is structured as a construction loan and a tax credit bridge loan. The Titanium portfolio spans three sites in Arkansas and Illinois, expected to power 71,000 homes annually. Construction of the first site, the Cooks Mill project, commenced in September 2024 and will be operational by early 2026. "MUFG and Nomura provide $388m for Greenalia's solar Misae II in Texas" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
