Zaragoza has begun transforming several of its municipal parking lots into small local solar power plants Thanks to the installation of photovoltaic canopies in four strategic areas of the city. The project, which has already begun work around the Siglo XXI Pavilion, aims to convert parking lot roofs into energy generators. clean energy without occupying new urban land or reducing the number of available places.
This action is presented as one of the more ambitious renewable energy initiatives promoted by the City Council in the area of ​​collective self-consumption. Through urban solar communitiesThousands of homes near the parking lots will be able to benefit from the energy generated without needing to install panels on their buildings, while the city council will reduce its energy bill and advance towards its climate neutrality goals for 2030.
A pioneering project of solar canopies in four parking lots
The municipal plan includes the Installation of photovoltaic canopies in four public parking lots located in different parts of Zaragoza: the parking lot on Avenida José Atarés, next to the Siglo XXI Pavilion; the parking lot on Calle Marqués de la Cadena, near the Lidl supermarket; the parking lot located on Ronda de la Hispanidad, near the Grande Covián health center; and the Macanaz discretionary bus parking area.
In these four spaces, covered structures will be erected to house the solar panels, so that The parking spaces are protected under shade. while generating renewable energy on them. In total, [number of] will be installed. 4.176 photovoltaic modules which will cover 10.816 square meters of canopies, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in an urban environment in Spain.
From a capacity standpoint, the facilities will reach a combined power of 2.484,72 kWp (kilowatt peak)distributed across four lots. The parking garage on Avenida José Atarés-Siglo XXI will have 780,64 kWp; the one on Marqués de la Cadena, 460,53 kWp; the one on Ronda de la Hispanidad, 963,9 kWp; and the Macanaz bus parking lot, 279,65 kWp. This power will translate into a estimated production of 3.638,5 MWh per year.
The annual energy generated is approximately equivalent to electricity consumption of approximately 1.000 average householdsAlthough the project is designed to supply more than 6.000 potential homes within a certain radius, this equivalence illustrates the magnitude of the leap the city is taking in terms of local renewable production.
Regarding the operation of the parking facilities, the 651 existing covered parking spaces will be maintained, of which 40 will be equipped with charging points for electric vehiclesIn this way, the canopies combine three functions: protecting vehicles, generating clean energy, and reinforcing the infrastructure for electric mobility.
Private investment, 25-year concession, and no cost to the City Council
The contract to build and operate these solar canopies was put out to tender in 2024 and was awarded on January 16, 2025 to RepsolThe project will be developed through Solar360, its joint venture with Telefónica Spain specializing in photovoltaic self-consumption. The concession will have a non-renewable duration of 25 years.
The investment required for the installation, maintenance and operation of the canopies amounts to approximately 5,66 million euros, entirely contributed by the private sectorNo direct outlay is foreseen from the Zaragoza City Council: the income derived from the exploitation of the energy will allow the recovery of the invested capital and sustain the project over time.
This concessional scheme implies that Neither the city council nor the citizens will bear the initial cost of the start-up. For the end user, the model materializes through specific tariffs associated with the energy of the solar community, without the need to carry out their own works or face investments in equipment.
As part of the consideration, the winning company will also pay a fixed annual fee of 6.000 euros for each of the four lotsThis represents a recurring source of revenue for the City Council over the 25-year term of the agreement. In addition, there is an in-kind fee in the form of electricity, the value of which will be determined based on the percentages agreed upon for each facility.
Urban solar communities: the Solmatch model of collective self-consumption
The cornerstone of the project is the creation of collective self-consumption solar communities around the parking lots where the canopies are located. Repsol will implement its Solmatch model, which allows residential customers and small businesses to partner with a nearby photovoltaic installation to consume some of the energy it produces. This growing interest in the collective self-consumption has promoted similar projects in other cities.
In the case of Zaragoza, it is estimated that approximately 6.300 potential homes located within a radius of up to five kilometers Those with bus shelters can join these solar communities. The legal framework for this type of remote self-consumption is regulated in Spain by Royal Decree 244/2019, which establishes the conditions and limits for sharing energy among several consumption points.
The energy generated by the canopies will not be sold on the general electricity market, but will instead be will be primarily allocated to the collective self-consumption of the individuals and entities that have joined that meet the proximity and connection requirements established by the regulations. Each user will see a portion of the energy associated with the community reflected in their bill, along with the corresponding discount on the regular price.
The company explains that the delivery system works based on allocation coefficients communicated to the distributorThese coefficients determine what percentage of the plant's production corresponds to each supply point. These coefficients are generally reviewed annually, so consumers can decide to continue, adjust their participation, or leave the community without being subject to rigid commitments.
For interested residents, the registration process is handled through Repsol, which It offers a discounted rate associated with the energy generated by the nearby facility.The promise for families is to access a more competitive price than usual, which translates into significant savings throughout the year, especially in contexts of volatility in the wholesale market.
Energy distribution and supply to municipal facilities
In addition to supplying households and small businesses, the project includes a mechanism for electricity supply to municipal facilities as part of the concession feeA portion of the annual production from the awnings will be delivered directly to the City Council to power buildings and public services. This type of electricity supply to municipal facilities It already has precedents in similar projects that cede part of the production to local centers and facilities.
Specifically, it has been established that 10% of the energy generated in lots 1, 2 and 3 (José Atarés-Siglo XXI Avenue, Marqués de la Cadena and Ronda de la Hispanidad) and 4% in lot 4 (Macanaz bus parking) will be used as payment in kind to the city council. Municipal services will decide at which specific locations this supply will be provided.
This scheme allows most of the energy produced to be directed to self-consumption by citizens linked to solar communitiesWhile a smaller portion is used to reduce energy consumption in municipal buildings. In addition, as already mentioned, there is a fixed annual fee per lot, which reinforces the project's positive economic impact on public finances.
The Environment and Mobility department emphasizes that Every kilowatt hour generated under these canopies is a kilowatt hour that the City Council stops buying on the electricity marketIn the medium term, this distributed production and direct supply mechanism translates into real and measurable savings for both the local administration and, indirectly, for taxpayers.
The model aligns with the European trend of promoting local energy communities and to strengthen the active role of citizens in the electricity system, making it easier for cities to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and energy generated far from consumption points.
Sustainable mobility: 40 charging points and more comfortable parking
Beyond photovoltaic production, the canopy plan incorporates a significant component of Boosting electric mobility in ZaragozaOf the 651 parking spaces that will be under the solar roofs, 40 will be equipped with charging points for electric vehicles, thus reinforcing the charging infrastructure network in the city.
Integrating these chargers into existing parking lots allows to take advantage of everyday use of the space to provide an additional servicePeople who park their vehicles in these areas will be able to recharge while carrying out other activities, which facilitates the adoption of electric cars in established urban environments.
The very configuration of the canopies offers practical advantages: The vehicles will be protected from the sun and inclement weather.This reduces overheating in summer and improves user comfort. At the same time, it avoids occupying new plots of land for photovoltaic generation, as it utilizes land that was already developed and used for parking.
The responsible municipal department interprets this action as a step towards a model of "Parking lots of the future" that combine clean energy and charging servicesThe idea is to integrate, in the same space, distributed generation solutions, support for electromobility and improved service to citizens, without giving up the basic functionality of the parking lot.
In practice, these four parking lots become nodes where things converge energy transition and change in mobility habitscontributing to reducing both emissions associated with electricity supply and those originating from transport in the city.
Planning of the works and minimization of impacts
The works have started in the parking area around the Siglo XXI PavilionThe first of the four, the largest, will be opened, and the facilities will be progressively extended to the remaining locations: Marqués de la Cadena, Ronda de la Hispanidad, and the Macanaz bus parking area. The plan anticipates that all facilities will be operational by the end of the year, although the concession covers a 25-year period.
From a technical standpoint, an execution plan has been designed staggered and phased To keep most parking spaces open during the works, the plan is to organize partial closures by zone, so that users still have parking available nearby and prolonged complete closures are avoided.
This approach responds to the condition that the four parking lots are located in areas with high demand for parkingThis affects both residents and people who visit nearby sports centers, healthcare facilities, or other amenities. Minimizing the impact has been considered key to preventing the parking problem from spreading to other neighborhoods or nearby streets.
Coordination between the City Council and the concessionary company will allow the construction schedule to be adjusted to specific events or needs of the surrounding area, with the aim of minimize temporary inconveniences derived from the implementation of solar structures.
Environmental impact, trees and compensatory measures
The design of solar canopies has paid special attention to impact on the urban environment and existing treesEach parking lot has its own characteristics in terms of geometry, road alignment, and vegetation, so the projects have been adapted on a case-by-case basis, introducing relevant changes to the initial sketches when necessary.
In lots 2 and 3, in particular, the following have been carried out substantial modifications to the original proposals To adjust the location and shape of the structures, the aim was to preserve as many trees as possible and minimize shade reductions in pedestrian areas. The objective was to make the new infrastructure compatible with the existing green infrastructure.
Despite these adaptations, it will be inevitable that Removal of 19 trees in lot 1, corresponding to the parking lot on Avenida José Atarés, and a similar number in lot 2, located on Marqués de la Cadena. In lots 3 (Ronda de la Hispanidad) and 4 (Macanaz) direct impact on trees has been avoided, so no tree felling is planned in those areas.
The technical impossibility of transplanting the trees that must be removed will be compensated by a financial contribution of 23.990,41 euros by the winning companyThe funds are earmarked entirely for planting 55 new 16/18 caliber trees in tree pits and green spaces throughout the city. This replacement will be carried out under the coordination of the municipal Green Infrastructure Service.
The overall approach of the project aligns with the priority of promoting a a more compact and efficient urban growth model, in which the new facilities are built on already urbanized land, avoiding expanding the artificial footprint and reducing the occupation of natural or agricultural land for energy uses.
Commitment to climate neutrality and European policies
The implementation of these photovoltaic canopies is part of the Zaragoza's strategy to integrate into the European Union's Mission of 100 Climate Neutral and Smart CitiesThis community program sets the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 in selected cities, promoting high-impact energy, mobility, and urban regeneration projects.
By opting for local renewable electricity production in the heart of the city, the Aragonese capital It reinforces an energy model based on proximity.This results in reduced COâ‚‚ emissions and decreased energy transmission losses. Generation is located very close to consumption points, increasing the overall efficiency of the system.
Initiatives like this, based on public-private partnershipThese projects allow for the mobilization of significant investments without burdening municipal finances with the initial cost of the infrastructure. In return, the private sector obtains a temporary concession that grants it access to a stable revenue stream derived from long-term energy supply.
In the Spanish and European context, this type of project is interpreted as a an intermediate option between large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic generation and traditional self-consumption on individual rooftopsCanopies in municipal parking lots offer available surface area, good sun exposure and proximity to thousands of potential consumers, without the technical and legal constraints that residential building roofs often present.
Overall, the installation of photovoltaic canopies in the four parking lots of Zaragoza represents a qualitative leap in the way renewables are integrated into the cityIt leverages existing infrastructure, deploys solar communities that bring clean energy to thousands of homes, strengthens electric mobility, introduces efficiency criteria in land use and provides measurable savings for both the administration and the citizens, all within the framework of European objectives of climate neutrality and orderly energy transition.
