A mega solar plant between Madrid and Toledo aims to transform the central Iberian energy map

The Swiss multinational Smartenergy has put forward the construction of a photovoltaic plant covering more than one thousand hectares, spread across municipalities in the south of Madrid and the north of Toledo, with Valdemoro, Colmenar de Oreja, Seseña and Añover de Tajo as the main reference points. The plan has been designed in two stages: an initial one of 233.7 megawatts that would occupy 677 hectares and a second, still pending approval, that would add a further 290.3 megawatts. With almost 524 MW of total installed capacity, the facility would rank among the largest in the country and would make it possible to cover the annual electricity needs of around 150,000 homes.

Beyond households, part of the production would be allocated to major energy consumers, such as data centres and logistics complexes, in line with European efficiency and sustainability objectives. This would place Madrid in a more competitive position in renewables, an area in which it has so far lagged behind other regions.

In employment terms, the project does not yet offer official figures, but similar experiences indicate that several hundred workers could be mobilised during the construction phase, in addition to generating indirect jobs in sectors such as transport and equipment installation. Once operational, the plant would require a small permanent team for its operation and maintenance. If confirmed, the initiative would mark a turning point in the region's energy transition, consolidating the Madrid–Toledo axis as a new strategic clean-energy hub.