Alstom’s industrial site in Santa Perpètua, Barcelona, has completed the first phase of a significant photovoltaic solar energy project designed to generate clean energy for the factory. The installation of over 3,500 solar panels is expected to meet 26.5% of the site’s energy needs, with the first panels already connected to the grid, generating the first carbon-free megawatts.
The initial phase involved placing 2,419 solar panels across rooftops of workshops, office buildings, and parking areas, including coverage of parking spaces to maximize panel installation. The second phase, which is expected to finish by June, will expand the project by adding solar panels to a secondary parking area with a new roof structure.
Developed in partnership with Edison Next, the entire project includes the installation of 3,596 photovoltaic panels, offering a total peak power of 2,041 kWp. Once fully operational, the panels are projected to produce 2,776 MWh of renewable energy annually.
Spanning more than 9,000 square meters (about two football fields), the solar panels will significantly contribute to Alstom’s sustainability efforts by reducing CO2 emissions by 694 tonnes annually—equivalent to the emissions of 162 gasoline-powered cars in a year. The Santa Perpètua site, like other Alstom Spain facilities, already uses electricity solely from renewable sources and has been enhancing energy efficiency through various initiatives. These include upgrading to more efficient machinery, installing LED lighting, and conducting awareness campaigns aimed at reducing electricity consumption.
In a further demonstration of its environmental commitment, Alstom recently completed the planting of a 1,000-tree forest on the site, which has been registered with the Ministry for Ecological Transition. This makes it the first factory in the railway sector to register its CO2 emissions and implement a project designed to absorb and offset them.
