ACCIONA Energía has announced today the start of construction of a new 177.9 MWp photovoltaic project in the district of La Joya (Arequipa), with start of operations expected by the end of 2026.

The solar plant will comprise 288,000 photovoltaic modules. It will generate 488GWh of clean electricity per year —enough to supply 325,000 people— while avoiding the annual emission of 255,000 tons of CO₂. This reduction is equivalent to removing 100,000 combustion vehicles from the road or planting 6.5 million trees.

The construction of the San José solar plant will have a positive impact on local employment, with an estimated 500 direct jobs created at the peak of construction activity.

San José is ACCIONA Energía’s first photovoltaic project in Peru and will be connected to the National Interconnected Electric System (SEIN) at the San José substation via a 220kV, 9.2-kilometre transmission line.

Peru is emerging as a high-potential market in the region’s energy transition, thanks to its strong solar radiation in the south and favorable wind conditions along the northern coast. The country has set up a goal to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix to 20% by 2030.