ACCIONA Energía is selected by the US Army for the development of solar projects in its facilities

ACCIONA Energía has been selected by the US Army as a potential contractor for the development of solar energy projects, within the framework of a government program that plans an investment of seven billion dollars in the implementation of renewable energies in military installations.

Through its subsidiary ACCIONA Energy North America (AENA), the company has passed a selection process organized by the Engineering Corps of the US Army and has been approved - together with 21 other companies from a total of over one hundred - to be eligible for future contracts for the supply of solar power to the Army's facilities and installations.  

The US Defense Department is the biggest single consumer of energy in the world and it now has to comply with a mandate from Congress to cover at least 25% of the energy consumption in its facilities and installations with renewable energy sources. To do this, it plans to implement 3,000 MW of renewables in Army, Air Force and Navy facilities by 2025, with a level of consumption equivalent to that of around 750,000 homes.

The MATOC (Multiple Award Task Order Contracts) program in which this initiative is framed covers the signature of purchase and sale contracts for renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass and geothermal) for up to 30 years with qualified contracts in order to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain electricity generation facilities for supply to the Army.

"The selection is recognition of ACCIONA's technological capability in the field of solar power in one of the most competitive markets in the world", says Ilya Hartmann, CEO of ACCIONA Energy North America "Our company is in an excellent position to contribute to the Army's objectives in the field of renewable energies, and we hope compete for projects arising from this process soon."

Proven experience and projects under development

ACCIONA Energía has long-standing experience - over 17 years - in the installation of photovoltaic solar plants, a technology in which it has put more than 115 megawatts (MWp) into service. Of this figure, 76 MWp is for its customers and 48 MWp are owned by the company. Among the twenty large-scale plants built by the company we would highlight the 45.8-MWp installation at Amareleja (Moura) in Portugal, one of the biggest plants in the world with automated solar tracking.

The company is now building a 94 MWp plant in South Africa, awarded to it in a tender called by the country's government. It also has a good number of projects under development for customers in the modality of EPC contracts.

ACCIONA is also a leader in solar thermal power, with five plants in operation in Spain and one in the United States, with total capacity of 314 MW.