Núñez de Balboa Solar Park - Spain

Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1475-1519) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who is best known for being the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from its eastern shore, thus claiming it for Spain.

Born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain, Núñez de Balboa came to the Americas in 1500 and quickly became involved in exploration and conquest. He participated in expeditions to the north coast of South America and eventually became governor of a Spanish colony in what is now Panama.

In 1513, Núñez de Balboa led an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first European to see the ocean from its eastern shore. He claimed the ocean and all the lands it touched for Spain, and named it the "South Sea." The Pacific Ocean was not officially named until Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1520.

Despite his accomplishments, Núñez de Balboa fell out of favor with the Spanish crown and was executed in 1519 for treason. However, his legacy as a courageous explorer and adventurer has lived on through the centuries.

History of Núñez de Balboa Solar Park - Spain

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was born in 1475 in Jerez de los Caballeros, a town in southwestern Spain. Not much is known about his early life, but he is believed to have come from a noble family that had fallen on hard times.

In 1500, Núñez de Balboa traveled to the New World, where he settled in Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and became a farmer. He quickly became involved in exploration and conquest, joining expeditions to the north coast of South America and the islands of the Caribbean.

In 1510, Núñez de Balboa joined an expedition led by Diego de Nicuesa to establish a new colony on the Isthmus of Panama. The expedition encountered many difficulties, including hostile indigenous peoples and a lack of food and supplies. Nicuesa and many of his men perished, but Núñez de Balboa and a group of survivors managed to establish a colony at Darién.

Núñez de Balboa quickly proved himself to be a capable leader, and he was eventually elected governor of the colony. He worked to establish peaceful relations with the local indigenous peoples and encouraged his men to explore the surrounding area in search of riches.

In 1513, Núñez de Balboa learned from the local indigenous peoples that there was a large body of water to the south, which they called the "South Sea." He set out with a group of men to find the sea and, after a grueling journey across the mountains and through the jungle, he became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from its eastern shore.

Núñez de Balboa claimed the ocean and all the lands it touched for Spain and named it the "South Sea." He returned to Spain in 1514 to report his discovery to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who were impressed by his achievement and appointed him governor of the newly established province of Panama.

Despite his successes, Núñez de Balboa fell out of favor with the Spanish crown and was accused of treason. He was arrested and executed in 1519, but his legacy as a courageous explorer and adventurer has lived on through the centuries.

Núñez de Balboa Solar Park Spain - Profile

The Núñez de Balboa Solar power plant covers an area of 1,000 hectares and has a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts (MW). It consists of 1.43 million solar panels and can generate enough electricity to power around 250,000 homes. The plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 215,000 tons per year.

The project was developed by Spanish energy company Iberdrola and involved an investment of around €300 million. It is part of Iberdrola's commitment to renewable energy and its goal of reaching 50 GW of installed renewable capacity by 2030.

In addition to the Núñez de Balboa solar power plant, Iberdrola has several other renewable energy projects in Spain, including wind farms and hydropower plants. The company is also active in other countries around the world, with a focus on clean energy and sustainability.

Núñez de Balboa Solar Park Spain - Technology

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) project, which means it generates electricity by converting sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity using solar panels. The solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells, which are made of semiconductor materials that can convert sunlight into electricity.

The plant is equipped with 1.43 million solar panels, which are mounted on fixed structures that face south to maximize their exposure to the sun. The panels are connected by underground cables to 115 central inverters, which convert the DC electricity generated by the panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity that is used in homes and businesses.

The electricity generated by the Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is fed into a substation, where it is stepped up in voltage and transmitted through high-voltage power lines to the electricity grid. The electricity is then distributed to consumers through the local distribution network.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant uses advanced technology and equipment to optimize its performance and efficiency, including solar trackers that follow the sun's path across the sky, which allows the panels to generate electricity for longer periods each day.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is an impressive example of how modern technology can be harnessed to generate clean, renewable energy at a large scale.

Núñez de Balboa Solar Park Spain - Operator

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant, which is located in the region of Extremadura in western Spain, is owned and operated by Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational electric utility company.

Iberdrola is one of the largest energy companies in the world, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainability. The company has a diverse portfolio of renewable energy projects, including wind farms, hydropower plants, and solar power plants, and has set ambitious goals for the expansion of its renewable energy capacity.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a key part of Iberdrola's strategy to increase its renewable energy capacity in Spain and around the world. The plant has a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) and is one of the largest solar photovoltaic plants in Europe.

Iberdrola has invested around €300 million in the Núñez de Balboa solar power plant, which covers an area of 1,000 hectares and has the capacity to generate enough electricity to power around 250,000 homes. The plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 215,000 tons per year, contributing to the transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon energy system.

Iberdrola's investment in the Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a significant example of the company's commitment to renewable energy and its role in the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

Núñez de Balboa Solar Park Spain - Cost and Financial

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant, which is located in the region of Extremadura in western Spain, was developed by Spanish energy company Iberdrola and involved an investment of around €300 million.

The plant has a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) and covers an area of 1,000 hectares. It consists of 1.43 million solar panels and can generate enough electricity to power around 250,000 homes. The plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 215,000 tons per year.

The project was financed through a combination of equity and debt. Iberdrola contributed the majority of the equity, while the remaining amount was raised through a project financing structure that involved a syndicate of banks.

The project financing structure included a mix of commercial bank debt, export credit agency financing, and green bond issuance. The green bond issuance, which was the first of its kind for a Spanish renewable energy project, involved the issuance of €1.4 billion in green bonds to finance the project.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is expected to generate revenue through the sale of electricity to the Spanish electricity market. The plant has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Spanish utility Endesa, which guarantees a fixed price for the electricity generated by the plant.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure in Spain, and it demonstrates the increasing role of private sector investment in the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

Núñez de Balboa Solar Park Spain - Energy Contribution

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant, which is located in the Extremadura region of Spain, is one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Europe. With a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts (MW), the plant can generate enough electricity to power around 250,000 homes.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is equipped with 1.43 million solar panels, which are mounted on fixed structures that face south to maximize their exposure to the sun. The panels are connected by underground cables to 115 central inverters, which convert the DC electricity generated by the panels into alternating current (AC) electricity.

The electricity generated by the Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is fed into a substation, where it is stepped up in voltage and transmitted through high-voltage power lines to the electricity grid. The electricity is then distributed to consumers through the local distribution network.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is expected to generate around 1,300 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the energy consumption of around 250,000 homes. This represents a significant contribution to the renewable energy mix in Spain, where the government has set a target of generating 74% of the country's electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a key part of Iberdrola's strategy to increase its renewable energy capacity in Spain and around the world. The plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 215,000 tons per year, contributing to the transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon energy system.

Conclusion for Núñez de Balboa Solar Park Spain

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a significant example of the growing trend towards renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure development. Developed by Spanish energy company Iberdrola, the plant is one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Europe, with a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts (MW).

Located in the Extremadura region of Spain, the plant consists of 1.43 million solar panels and can generate enough electricity to power around 250,000 homes. The plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 215,000 tons per year, contributing to the transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon energy system.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant was financed through a combination of equity and debt, with Iberdrola contributing the majority of the equity and the remaining amount raised through a project financing structure that involved a syndicate of banks. The project financing structure included a mix of commercial bank debt, export credit agency financing, and green bond issuance, which was the first of its kind for a Spanish renewable energy project.

The Núñez de Balboa solar power plant is a significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure in Spain and a demonstration of the increasing role of private sector investment in the transition to a more sustainable energy system. The plant is expected to generate revenue through the sale of electricity to the Spanish electricity market, with a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Spanish utility Endesa guaranteeing a fixed price for the electricity generated by the plant.