Malaga Metro goes solar – Costa News Spain

The Malaga Metro completed its third and final phase in the construction of a photovoltaic system that generates electricity using 3,719 panels.

An investment of €1.9 million has enabled the installation of the solar plant, which will be pumping out a massive 27 percent of the electricity needed to run the underground train service. The presentation of the project, which was accompanied by the Minister of Development, Rocío Díaz, and Mayor of Malaga, Paco de la Torre who said, ‘this is a significant step in the Metro’s commitment to energy efficiency.’

The first two phases of the solar plant have been doubled in terms of installed energy capacity. Solar plant has now a total of 2,068 Kwp, and a forecasted annual energy production of 3,116 Mwh.

This will allow the Metro to be less dependent on the conventional power grid. This is especially important when you consider the increased consumption that will occur with the extension of suburban service to Malaga Centre and the addition of four new train services starting in September 2023.

In spite of these landmarks and the expansion of the metro system, the ratios of annual electricity consumed per annual traveller as well as the ratios of annual electric consumption per kilometre traveled by the train fleet have decreased. This is due to more energy efficient actions.

This third phase will allow the Metro to be self-sufficient and have zero electricity consumption in the evening hours.