MP currently has sites intended for photovoltaic installations. The following factors were considered when choosing the sites:

• The chosen position should not be near any form of object (trees, buildings, structures, etc.) that may cause shadows over any part of the photovoltaic generator. Special care must be taken to consider whether the shadows cast by hills and mountains can reach the installations as these could be seriously affected.
  
• Given that most of these plants are installed in rural areas, it is vitally important to ensure that there is a low or medium voltage electricity line near or within the chosen site.

MP, in accordance with these considerations, has two sites for this type of project:

The first, Las Cañas, is located at kilometre mark 8 of the Jerez-Sanlúcar motorway. This site will be able to connect to is 5.67 Mw. The works are to be initiated either towards the end of 2007 or at the beginning of 2008.

The second site, Vaina, is located in Puerto de Santa María (Cadiz). The power for this site will be 690 kW. The estimated start date for the Vaina works is October 2007.

The photovoltaic installations have been orientated as closely to the SOUTH as possible. The optimum inclination is the angle at which receives the most solar radiation all year round. At our latitude, the optimum value is 25º-35º.

Both photovoltaic installations connected to the grid follow the diagram below:

The catching and generating subsystem, the photovoltaic generator, is made up of a series of solar panels or photovoltaic modules, which are electrically inter-connected. These modules transform the sun’s energy into electrical energy and generate a continuous electrical current that is proportional to the sun’s radiance emittance as received by the panels. In order to send the energy generated by the solar installation to the electricity grid, it must be converted to an alternating current.

A transformer is used to convert the power or input generated by the solar installations from direct current into alternating current. In this way, the energy produced can be used to supply the electricity grid.

The electricity generated, using the corresponding meter, is sold to the electricity distribution company in accordance with the aforementioned Spanish Royal Decree.

Íñigo Argüeso Bejarano
Head of Renewable Energy Area