February 10, 2026
Foz promotes a strategic modernization of its urban water cycle with a new management contract
CommunicationOur news
The president of the Girona Provincial Council and the Costa Brava Girona Water Consortium, Miquel Noguer, and the mayor of Castelló d'Empúries, Salvi Güell, have unveiled the photovoltaic solar plant installed at the Castelló d'Empúries wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), located in Empuriabrava. The purpose of this project is to move the plant towards energy self-sufficiency and contribute to greater environmental sustainability.
The works, which lasted two months, represented an investment of €108.869,20, excluding VAT. Funding was provided by the joint venture CCB-ELA, comprised of the companies Facsa and Constructora de Calaf, to whom the Consorci d'Aigües Costa Brava Girona has awarded the management of the high-pressure water sanitation systems in the northern area.
With this project, Facsa It continues its expansion process in Catalonia, where it already manages the bulk water supply and wastewater sanitation services of the Costa Brava, the water supply service of Llinars del Vallès and the operation of the Granollers WWTP.
In total, 234 solar panels were installed across 1.200 square meters, with a total installed capacity of 105,3 kW. To optimize their performance, prior studies were conducted to determine the solar radiation potential and identify the most suitable location. The panels are mounted on concrete structures that allow for an angle of inclination that reduces the effects of wind, which is very frequent and significant in the Alt Empordà region.
The estimated annual energy production is approximately 156 MWh for self-consumption at the wastewater treatment plant itself. This is projected to represent 21,5% of the equipment's average annual energy consumption, contributing to a significant reduction in its electricity bill. During the summer, consumption can reach a maximum of 550 kWh/day, while in winter it will be around 300 kWh/day.
As Mairena García, head of operations, explained, “This initiative, which allows us to minimize our clients' carbon footprint, reaffirms Facsa's commitment to evolving towards a new, more sustainable wastewater treatment plant concept. This is possible thanks to internal innovation processes and the implementation of new technologies.” The company is committed to sustainability as a central pillar of its business strategy, understood as a comprehensive impact across its organization and its entire environment—not only environmental, but also economic and social.
The president of the Girona Provincial Council, Miquel Noguer, emphasized: “At the Consorci d'Aigües (Water Consortium), we have always been committed to sustainability, and now, in the context of climate change, we have further strengthened our environmental and strategic focus in the region, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative will contribute to reducing electricity consumption and, at the same time, reducing CO2 emissions.”
The phases of the process
The work carried out consisted, in the first instance, of the prior preparation of the land, which included the installation of a drainage pipe to facilitate the evacuation of rainwater, the placement of a geotextile sheet to prevent the growth of vegetation and the covering with a layer of gravel.
Subsequently, the concrete structures designed to support the photovoltaic solar panels were placed and, finally, they were secured.
This installation has also been integrated into the control system of the Empuriabrava wastewater treatment plant to evaluate and monitor its operation. This allows for control over both energy production and consumption.
