Don Quijote is a 17.8 MW solar power plant in Castille-La Mancha, Spain. It is operated by Avanzalia Energía [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 7.6k homes (estimated). It ranks #618 of 899 Spain power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2008, it is around 18 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 21.8% of Spain's electricity; the national grid averages 154 gCO₂/kWh (74.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WKS0060068.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is a source-verified 2026 capacity claim: 18 MW for Don Quijote solar project.
GEM · 2026 · operating plant capacity
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001009258; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 17.8 MW, Don Quijote is well above the median solar plant in Spain (10 MW). Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Spain solar capacity
- 0.3% of 5,166 MW across 243 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 8 of 169 dated solar plants in Spain are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest solar plants in Spain
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Avanzalia Energía [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 39.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 33% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 37/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #66 largest solar power plant of 243 in Spain by capacity.
Spain has 243 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 5,166 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- AZUTAN 2 · Hydro · 198 MW · Castille-La Mancha
- Talayuela 1 · Solar · 10 MW · Extremadura
- VALDECANAS 3 · Hydro · 249 MW · Extremadura
- Casatejada · Solar · 11.3 MW · Extremadura
- Almaraz · Solar · 22.1 MW · Extremadura
- CN ALMARAZ 1 · Nuclear · 2,093 MW · Extremadura
Location
Coordinates 39.8942, -5.3246 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Don Quijote?
Don Quijote is a 17.8 MW solar power plant in Castille-La Mancha, Spain, commissioned in 2008.
Who operates Don Quijote?
Don Quijote is operated by Avanzalia Energía [100%].