In a move that has sparked outcry in the agricultural heartlands of Jaén and Córdoba, farmers are mobilising against the expropriation of their olive groves to make way for large-scale solar farms.
Greenalia Solar, a multinational energy company, plans to build several photovoltaic plants in these regions, threatening a centuries-old way of life. Farmers argue that while renewable energy is necessary, the approach taken is destroying their livelihoods.
The planned mega solar parks will cover an area equivalent to 100 football fields. This means the potential to uproot over 100,000 olive trees in municipalities like Lopera, Arjona, and Marmolejo. This region, known for its vast olive groves, had even been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status under the name “Andalucian Olive Landscape”. However, the arrival of these solar projects puts this recognition in jeopardy.
“Renewables yes, but not like this”
This slogan has become the rallying cry of the local farmers and residents, many of whom are part of the newly formed Stop Megaplantas platform. They argue that the solar farms, while branded as green energy solutions, will actually result in job losses and the destruction of the region’s agricultural economy. Olive farming is the backbone of local employment. Therefore, the loss of these groves threatens the income of countless families who rely on the annual olive harvest.
The platform claims Greenalia is avoiding tighter regulatory scrutiny by breaking up its solar projects into smaller segments. By doing so, the projects dodge environmental oversight that would otherwise be triggered if presented as a single, larger project.
A divided desponse
Greenalia, on the other hand, argues that their projects will reduce CO2 emissions and provide clean energy to thousands of homes. The company maintains that the environmental impact will be minimal, and that any disruptions caused during construction will be corrected once the plants are operational.
Despite these assurances, many local residents feel that they are being pushed aside. “They’re taking away our ancestral lands for something that won’t even benefit us,” said one farmer. The electricity generated by the new plants is expected to be sold across Europe, leaving local communities with little to show for their losses.
Also read: How olive pits could revolutionise the construction industry