Compromís por Sagunt approved the assembly this week and presented concerns about a macro photovoltaic plant tied to a future Volkswagen gigafactory. Supporters of the project frame it as a major renewable energy initiative, while opposition groups argue it would damage the municipality’s historic orchard and farmland. The ongoing debate reflects a clash between strategic industrial ambitions and local agricultural heritage.
The town planning councilor and former mayor, Quico Fernández, outlined the sequence of events from the moment the proposal first emerged in unofficial channels. An agreement reportedly existed between the company and the Generalitat to establish a self-consumption photovoltaic installation in the Gausa garden, extending from the start of the highway to Puçol. Early negotiations sought to minimize environmental and landscape impact, and a plan focusing on the Gausa and Montíber regions was initially considered. Proposals showing less impact were discussed, but some areas proposed by Urban authorities were rejected. Fernández, who spoke on behalf of Compromís in the regional parliament, stressed that the plan originated within the planning zone and that the process did not originate in a transparent, participatory manner.
According to Fernández, municipal technical reports indicate that the project does not comply with existing regulations due to the large-scale occupation of land—estimated at about five million square meters—an area classified as having high agricultural capacity. He noted that the decree regulating photovoltaic installations expressly excludes such extensive tracts of land, and four amendments to the regional planning law would be necessary to render the project permissible. He described the current proposal as a bespoke arrangement that would set a remarkable precedent in regional planning.
Opponents argue that there is no compelling need for such a large self-consumption facility. European funds emphasize supporting renewable energy, but the funds do not require all generation to be consumed on-site near the factory. The energy produced could come from other locations as long as the overall energy goals are met. Fernández contends that the justification for the chosen setup appears to rest more on economic interests than on genuine energy strategy, suggesting that the arrangement could lower the promoter’s costs and maximize profits for the winning utility at the expense of local communities.
A spokesperson for Compromís per Sagunt remarked that a project so contrary to sustainable development should not be framed as sustainability. The nationalist group highlighted that combining this facility with the gigafactory would introduce thousands of phantom environmental impacts and hundreds of thousands of trees’ worth of ecological disruption, underscoring the perceived imbalance between industrial scale and ecological stewardship.
Alternative
Fernández recommended seeking renewables from alternative sources or locating factories in more suitable regions to meet the energy needs of the Volkswagen battery facility. He suggested leveraging the roofs of municipal buildings to host solar installations, referencing a study by the Institute of Technology that identifies a potential annual electricity generation of 285 GWh, which would surpass the 240 GWh target associated with self-consumption in Generalitat’s strategic review for the VW plant. The aim is to achieve renewable energy delivery that aligns with environmental and economic goals while minimizing local disruption. The broader objective remains to secure clean energy while preserving agricultural lands and the social fabric of Sagunt, balancing industrial growth with regional sustainability commitments. [Citation: regional planning records; municipal reports; sustainability assessments]