Aguas de Sousas, water with more than 250 years of history, and Bodegas Gallegas, the biggest wine marketer in Galicia, both companies of the same group, take a chance on the energy self-consumption with the help of the energy company EDP, with which they have signed an agreement to boost savings and sustainability through the implementation of six photovoltaic facilities in the community.

The Group of Bodegas Gallegas, that has been elaborating the best Galician wines for more than 50 years, will install photovoltaic panels in its five Galician wineries: Bodegas Milenium, Bodega Alanis, Bodegas Arnoya, Rectoral do Umia and Rectoral de Amandi, that stands out for being a referent in the whole D.O. of Ribeira Sacra and, in this case, for the distinctive feature of the installation being found in a former rectory of 1000 m2 of the 17th century.

In Rectoral do Umia, belonging to the D.O. Rías Baixas, and found in the Salnés Valley, the installation has already finished. It has an output of 73,8 kilowatts peak, it consists of 164 solar panels, and it will generate a consumption saving of 26,20%.

In Bodegas Milenium, EDP will start up a photovoltaic installation of 158,4 kilowatts peak, consisting of 352 solar modules, that will generate a consumption reduction of 23,90%. Bodegas Arnoya, Bodeas Alanis and Rectoral Armandi will have an installed output of 52,2 kilowatts peak each, which will enable a consumption reduction of 31,73%, 37,75% and 42,60% respectively.

The largest installation will be made in Verín, where Agua de Sousas will have a photovoltaic plant of 460,8 kilowatts peak and more than 1 000 photovoltaic modules, which will enable a consumption reduction of 22,30%. It will occupy an area of 2 532 m2 and its annual estimated production will be of 580 000 kilowatts.

Self-consumption is one of the energy solutions with the biggest saving potential, both for the companies and industries and for the households. In total, Bodegas Gallegas and Agua de Sousas will have an installed output of 850 kilowatts peak. The project’s surface reaches almost 5 000 m2 and its annual production will be of 1 000 000 kilowatts per hour, the equivalent to the average annual electrical consumption of almost 350 households. For the group this will entail a 30% saving of the electrical consumption each year. In addition, the self-consumption through these plants will avoid the annual emission of 375 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, which translates in a positive impact in the air quality, similar to the one that would be generated by more than 21 000 new trees.