Terrassa challenges Catalonia's renewable energy plan over ecological concerns

A study by the Diputació de Barcelona shows that the rooftops of Terrassa could generate 595.2 GWh of photovoltaic electricity per year – enough to cover 97 % of the municipality’s total consumption of 613.2 GWh. The regional PLATER plan, however, estimates only 194 GWh from rooftops, a figure three times lower than the study’s potential.

The environmental group ADENC argues that the current plan would designate 1,078 ha (15 % of Terrassa’s area) for solar installations, overlapping 455 ha of habitats of community interest and threatening valuable natural heritage. ADENC has filed formal objections demanding the withdrawal of the draft, an independent review of the energy forecasts, a new environmental impact assessment and genuine municipal participation in the planning process.

The Terrassa town council also lodged allegations against PLATER, contending that the plan was prepared without sufficient local input. PLATER allocates 71.6 MW of capacity to the municipality – 48 MW solar and 23.6 MW wind – which the council says would affect urban, agricultural and forested zones. The Generalitat has postponed the plan’s approval to the summer of 2027.