Catalan agricultural and environmental groups protest solar macro-plants

Ecologist organizations, agricultural unions, and residents of the Horta de Lleida have formed a united front to demand the withdrawal of the Territorial Plan for the Implementation of Renewable Energies (PLATER) in Catalonia. During a demonstration held in front of a solar plant in Alcarràs—recently inaugurated by President Salvador Illa—protesters denounced the current renewable energy model as “erroneous.”

Critics argue that the plan lacks genuine public participation despite government promises of a participatory model. They highlight that the plan has faced significant public opposition, evidenced by 12,400 formal allegations submitted to the government. The groups are calling for a moratorium on large-scale solar projects until a strategic, consensus-based planning process is established.

Key concerns include the loss of fertile irrigated land and threats to food sovereignty. Activists suggest that photovoltaic installations should instead be prioritized for already anthropized or artificial spaces, such as industrial parks or rooftops, rather than rural agricultural areas. Additionally, environmental advocates pointed to potential impacts on protected species, noting that previous energy projects in the region were halted due to the presence of the protected Sisó species.