Villalba del Rey Renewable Energy Hub
The renewable energy complex in Villalba del Rey, Cuenca (Castilla-La Mancha), represents a benchmark for technological hybridization in Spain.
Developed by ACCIONA Energía, the hub integrates the pre-existing El Escepar and El Peralejo wind farms (respectively 30 MW and 20MW) with the recently commissioned two hybrids solar plants (49 MW) and the Bolarque photovoltaic plant (50 MWp), creating a total clean energy capacity of 161 MW. This integrated infrastructure produces enough electricity to power approximately 70,000 households annually, and the solar installation alone is avoiding the emission of nearly 40,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
The project’s expansion into solar energy was marked by a commitment to local influence and community participation. ACCIONA Energía established a permanent dialogue with the residents and administrations of Villalba del Rey and Tinajas to harmonize industrial operations with local needs. Following surveys and meetings with local farmers, specific measures were implemented to ensure that construction did not interfere with agricultural cycles. This included coordinating heavy vehicle traffic and opening alternative paths during the harvest season, demonstrating how renewable energy can coexist with traditional land uses.
A high level of transparency guided the project’s social strategy and governance. Utilizing its Social Impact Management (GIS - Gestión del Impacto Social) methodology, the company facilitated dialogue tables where local stakeholders were directly involved in the decision-making process. Instead of unilateral corporate giving, the company presented socioeconomic assessments to the community, allowing them to lead the selection of social investments. Public events were held to present the progress and results of the strategic plan developed by specialized consultants, ensuring the community remained informed and the decision-making process stayed transparent.
This transparent and participatory model resulted in significant local value generation. Through the "Desarrolla Villalba del Rey" initiative, a portion of the hub's revenue is reinvested into the community. The primary focus chosen by the locals was the revitalization of the Santos Sebastián e Isidro olive oil cooperative, an essential economic engine for the village. The program provides technical training, modernization of cultivation techniques, and marketing support to ensure the cooperative's long-term viability. Additionally, the project’s solar extension created 140 construction jobs and 5 permanent operational roles, boosting local employment by training construction workers, who were mostly unemployed residents in the area where the photovoltaic plants are located.
Ultimately, the Villalba del Rey project demonstrates how a development framework rooted in transparency, active local influence, and shared value generation can transform a renewable energy hub into a driver for socioeconomic revitalization and rural sustainability.
Sources:
REDS-SDSN Spain (2025, April). Energías renovables: casos inspiradores para mejorar su despliegue en el territorio. pp. 25-26. https://reds-sdsn.es/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Renovables-y-Territorio-REDS.pdf
ACCIONA Energía. Planta fotovoltaica Bolarque. https://www.solarbolarque.es/
ACCIONA Experience. La energía renovable que revitalizó el olivar de Villalba. https://experience.acciona.com/es/social/energia-renovable-revitalizo-olivar-villalba-rey/?_adin=02021864894
