{
  "id": 19493539,
  "title": "Floating Solar Plan Offers Alternative to Panels on Vega Baja Farmland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/floating-solar-plan-offers-alternative-to-panels-on-vega-baja-farmland",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T12:18:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Leader",
    "slug": "the-leader",
    "url": "https://theleader.info/2026/11/11/floating-solar-plan-offers-alternative-to-panels-on-vega-baja-farmland/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers from the University of Alicante have suggested floating solar panels on La Pedrera reservoir to power a desalination plant in Torrevieja, potentially reducing costs for irrigation and sparing farmland from large solar installations. Andrés Molina and Pablo Melgarejo, from the Water Institute, presented the plan at a conference in Torrevieja on November 9. Their estimate suggests the solar park would cover less than 10 percent of the reservoir's 1,300 hectares, meeting part of the desalination plant's electricity needs. The proposal comes in response to local opposition to a previous plan for a 100-hectare solar farm in San Miguel de Salinas, which could have altered Vega Baja's agricultural landscape. La Pedrera reservoir, part of the buffer zone for the Sierra de Escalona Natural Park, would require environmental and legal assessment for the floating solar proposal. The university researchers highlighted Spain's Water Act permits floating solar installations and noted the desalination plant's designation as a project of national interest. The high cost of desalinated water is a major concern for irrigation growers, with the government subsidy scheme providing limited support for ten years and linking it to solar facilities aimed at reducing long-term electricity costs. Experts at the conference stressed the importance of using various water sources, including the Tagus–Segura transfer, desalinated water, groundwater, surface water, and treated wastewater, to maintain affordable irrigation costs and minimize boron concentrations in water, which can damage some tree crops. Researchers also discussed studying the mineral content of desalination brine throughout the year and limiting boron's effects on crops, as well as how energy communities could support irrigation associations in adopting renewable power and lowering electricity bills.",
  "summary": "Researchers at the University of Alicante have proposed installing floating solar panels on La Pedrera reservoir to help power the Torrevieja desalination plant, cut the cost of producing water for irrigation and spare Vega Baja farmland from large solar developments. Andrés Molina and Pablo Melgarejo, from the university’s Water Institute, presented the plan at a […] The post Floating Solar Plan…",
  "key_points": [
    "Researchers propose floating solar on 1,300-hectare La Pedrera reservoir",
    "Plan aims to power Torrevieja desalination plant and reduce costs",
    "Proposal addresses opposition to 100-hectare solar farm in San Miguel de Salinas"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}