3 Catalan villages join forces to produce 3 types of renewable energy

Almatret, Llardecans and Torrebesses show the way to achieve energy autonomy in the rural world thanks to European funding

You’ve probably never heard of Almatret, Llardecans and Torrebesses, three villages in the western Catalan province of Lleida. However, in their milieu, they are set to be pioneers as playing the host to the first citizen energy community in the region.

Called EneRural, it combines the three village councils, citizens and companies with the aim of producing, storing, distributing and marketing sustainable energy all from their own infrastructures.

What’s more, EneRural will not only bet on one single source of renewable energy and the goal is to provide a diversified portfolio consisting of solar power, wind power and hydropower. The investment tab for the entire initiative is estimated to reach 10 million euros, largely to be sought from European funds, but also from member contributions.

DIY energy in the countryside

The idea is to have the first power-generating equipment installed and producing electricity already sometime this year, although setting up the community in its entirety might take 3 to 4 years.

As local media reports, EneRural will operate in the form of a not-for-profit cooperative, meaning the reason for its existence is not lucrative but rather has the aim to provide much more affordable energy to the residents. It is estimated that through locally-produced energy residents' bills will be halved, compared to what they are paying now.

The three sources of power

Solar panels will be installed on houses and farms in the area, with a proposal to cover two reservoirs in Almatret with solar panels also being considered, as explained by Jordi Tarragó, mayor of Almatret, quoted by Catalan News. 

The cooperative is studying the possibility of building their own wind turbines, as well as seeking agreements with some companies that already have turbines in the area in order to take a portion of the energy produced.

The energy producers also plan to take advantage of the 400-metre difference in altitude between Almatret and the Ebre river by building a hydroelectric plant and making use of an old water-powered system that was used to bring coal from the mines in Almatret down to the river.