The Requiem in Power project, Valencia 2024

Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, has launched a groundbreaking renewable energy project that aims to transform its cemeteries into the nation’s largest urban solar farm. This initiative, called ‘Requiem in Power’ (RIP), involves installing thousands of solar panels across various graveyards, creating a unique green energy hub that honours the past to power the future.

Valencia’s bold plan to lead urban solar energy

As part of the ‘Valencia 2030 Climate Mission’, the city is set to install 6 658 solar panels in local cemeteries, with the first 810 already operational in the Grau, Campanar, and Benimàmet cemeteries. These solar panels will generate more than 4440 megawatts of electricity annually, significantly reducing the city’s carbon footprint by eliminating 140 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The energy produced will primarily power municipal buildings, with 25% allocated to support around 1 000 vulnerable households.

Repurposing cemeteries for a sustainable future

Cemeteries are often quiet, open spaces and provide ideal locations for solar panel installations due to their unobstructed access to sunlight. This makes them perfect candidates for projects like RIP, which creatively repurpose urban spaces without altering their original function. Much like installing solar panels on rooftops, the panels in Valencia’s cemeteries harness solar energy while preserving the serenity of these areas.

The concept of transforming cemeteries into renewable energy hubs is not entirely new. In Saint-Joachim (a village in northwest France), a similar project is underway with plans to install a solar canopy over a cemetery to generate electricity for 4 000 residents by 2025.

A key component of Valencia’s climate mission

The RIP project is central to the Valencia 2030 Climate Mission, which aims to generate 27% of the city’s energy from renewable sources, incorporate 100% of this clean energy into public infrastructure and transition all public lighting to energy-efficient LEDs by 2030. Additionally, the mission wants to establish local energy communities throughout Valencia’s neighbourhoods, fostering greater energy independence.

By repurposing municipal spaces like cemeteries, Valencia sets a powerful example of how cities contribute to the global fight against climate change. As part of its climate strategy, the city is committed to achieving climate neutrality by the end of this decade – 20 years ahead of the EU’s 2050 target.

Pioneering a renewable energy revolution

Valencia’s RIP project is a leading example of innovation in urban sustainability. It addresses the city’s energy needs and reduces dependency on fossil fuels. The initiative also demonstrates the potential for cities to utilise unconventional spaces for renewable energy production, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for their residents.

Valencia’s efforts are just one part of Spain’s broader renewable energy revolution. The country has set ambitious targets to generate 74% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and has already increased renewables share from 20.5% in 2008 to over 50% in 2023.  As the RIP project progresses, Valencia will continue to demonstrate its commitment to a more sustainable future, positioning itself, and Spain, as a pioneer in the global energy transition.