Kitchener – – October 15, 2026 -- Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ), has started commercial operations at its 200 MWp Villameca solar project in Castilla y León, Spain, bringing the company close to 1 GW of operating solar capacity in the country by the end of the year.
Villameca is expected to generate 359,172 MWh of electricity a year
The photovoltaic plant is expected to supply more than 100,000 homes and avoid about 57,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The company equates that to removing more than 12,000 internal combustion vehicles from the road.
Three Spanish projects drive the 1 GW year-end target
Villameca joins the recently inaugurated 426 MWp Rey Solar Project in Andalucía. The 315 MWp Tordesillas Project in Castilla y León is expected to connect later this year. Together, the three projects are expected to lift Recurrent Energy's operational solar capacity in Spain to approximately 1 GW by year-end.
UNEF awards Seal of Excellence for sustainability standards
The project received the Seal of Excellence from Spanish solar association UNEF during permitting and construction. Through the Community CaRE program, Recurrent Energy supports community facilities, educational improvements and social initiatives near the site. Biodiversity measures include habitat restoration, native vegetation planting, nesting structures, bat boxes and insect hotels.
CEO Dylan Marx called commercial operation an "important milestone" for the company's European growth.
Battery hybridization is planned for Villameca
Villameca is expected to be hybridized with battery energy storage systems to support grid stability. Recurrent Energy recently announced the grid connection of Montalto La Viola, one of Italy's first solar-plus-storage hybrid projects.