Renewable energy company Zelestra has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with the renewable energy manager and distributor EDP for a 170MWdc hybrid solar and 400MWh duration battery energy storage system (BESS) in Trujillo, Extremadura, Spain.
The hybrid BESS and solar project is designed to ensure the battery can always be fully charged daily in any weather conditions. It is designed for flexibility, for clean energy outside of normal solar hours and traditionally high-demand and high-price times. Zelestra said this is hoped to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions in peak hours and displace gas plants that usually operate in this time. Total energy production in Trujillo is expected to be around 300GWh annually, which will prevent over 40,000 tons of carbon emissions yearly. Construction for the project will start in the second half of 2025.
Zelestra claims a portfolio of approximately 30GWh of carbon-free projects in 13 countries. This includes 5.5GW of capacity it said is contracted with customers and in operations, including in construction and pre-construction. Zelestra is backed by investment firm EQT.
EDP said it has a total installed capacity of more than 29GW in Europe, North America, South America and Asia-Pacific.
In Spain, EDP employs more than 2,500 people and has more than 5000MW of installed capacity in total. The firm said it serves over three million in neighbouring Portugal and its portfolio includes solar energy solar in more than 10 markets.
Image: Zelestra and EDP sign PPA for hybrid solar BESS in Spain. Credit: Zelestra.
