Top 5: Europe’s largest renewable energy projects

Renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, as countries seek to reduce their carbon emissions and transition to a more sustainable future. In Europe, several major infrastructure projects have been developed to harness the power of wind, solar, and other renewable sources.

In this article, Construction Europe will take a closer look at five of the biggest renewable energy infrastructure projects in Europe, including wind farms, solar power plants, and geothermal power.

Fosen Vind

Where? Norway

Type of project: Onshore wind

Fosen Vind, located in central Norway, is set to be one of the largest onshore wind farms in Europe. It will have a total capacity of 1 gigawatt and consist of 278 turbines spread over six different sites. The project is being developed by Statkraft, TrønderEnergi, and Nordic Wind Power DA and is part of Norway’s efforts to become carbon-neutral by 2030. 

(Photo: Statkraft)

Hornsea Project Two

Where? UK

Type of project: Offshore wind

Located off the coast of Yorkshire in the UK, Hornsea Project Two is currently under construction. The project, developed by Ørsted, will have a total capacity of 1.4 gigawatts and consist of 165 turbines spread over an area of 462 square kilometres.

It is expected to generate enough electricity to power over 1.3 million homes when fully operational. Hornsea Project Two is a significant milestone in the UK’s transition towards a low-carbon economy and a step towards achieving the country’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

(Photo: Hornsea Projects)

Francisco Pizarro

Where? Spain

Type of project: Solar energy

The Francisco Pizarro facility has a total capacity of 590 megawatts and covers an area of over 1,300 hectares, which is equivalent to around 2,000 football fields. The plant consists of over 1.4 million solar panels and can generate enough electricity to power around 375,000 homes.

The photovoltaic park was developed by Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational electric utility company, and began operation in 2020.

(Photo: Iberdrola)

Cortes-La Muela

Where? Spain

Type of project: Hydropower

Cortes-La Muela is a hydropower project located in the province of Huesca, Spain. The project consists of a dam on the Gállego River, which creates a reservoir that is used to generate electricity. The dam is a concrete arch structure that stands at a height of 70 meters and has a length of 193 meters.

The power station has a total installed capacity of 1,320 MW, making it one of the largest hydroelectric plants in Spain. The Cortes-La Muela project has been operational since the early 1970s and continues to be an important source of renewable energy for the region.

(Photo: Iberdrola)

Hellisheidi Power Station

Where? Iceland

Type of project: Geothermal

The largest geothermal energy project in Europe is the Hellisheidi Power Station, located in southwest Iceland. It has an installed capacity of 303 MW and provides electricity and hot water to the capital city of Reykjavik and its surrounding areas. The station harnesses the heat from the geothermal fields located beneath the nearby volcanic landscape, using steam to power turbines that generate electricity.

In addition to electricity production, the station also supplies hot water for district heating, making it a significant contributor to Iceland’s renewable energy portfolio. 

(Photo: Rehman)