Extremadura rural land databank
About this good practice
Extremadura region leads in terms of installed photovoltaic capacity, representing 25% of the Spanish total. Additionally, the region is crossed by several natural gas transmission networks, and their manager, has been appointed as the operator of the future hydrogen network, which will follow the same route as the existing gas pipeline.
The Government of Extremadura, through its DG for Economy, Employment and Digital Transformation, has developed a strategy to attract direct foreign investments in 4 key sectors, being energy one of them.
In the framework of this strategy, “Extremadura’s rural land databank” is a tool developed by a public entity, Invest in Extremadura, to promote new projects in the region, focussing on those related to biomethane, green natural gas, hydrogen and green fuels.
A must-criterion is that the purpose of the project can’t be just the energy production, it has to involve an economic activity that creates jobs and growth in the region.
Potential investors can consult available public rural land larger than 10 hectares, compiled from the different public administrations involved, besides other key information such as protected areas, forest masses, irrigable areas, topography, electricity lines, raw water, and gas pipelines, provided by layers.
All information is geolocated in the software QGIS, which allows to focus on those areas close to their needs, obtaining an exact available surface with its corresponding energy generation potential.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
The tool itself does not require financial resources as it is developed on a free software. It does require human resources for its setting up and maintenance, and the commitment of the administrations to provide the data needed. The entire strategy has an allocation of 4M€ for a three-year period.
Evidence of success
The tool has already identified more than 26.000 hectares of public rural land in 57 locations that could be dedicated to new industrial projects, with data in terms of surface, potential renewable power, and proximity to key resources.
From over 20 biomethane plants that are currently being developed in Extremadura, at least 3 have benefited from the information provided by this tool. For instance, the German start-up “Turn2x” has set up a pilot plant to produce green natural gas in the region.
Potential for learning or transfer
This tool is easily replicable and scalable by other public administrations at local or regional level all around Europe. It can be built on-demand and include, in different layers, all the information that is considered relevant in each case. New layers may also be added later if additional factors want to be included. For this to be achieved, the organizations that own the data would have to be willing to share it so it can all be compiled in one same tool.
Another interesting feature is that the tool is flexible and can be periodically updated with new information, resources or variables that want to be taken into account. In the case of replication, the design should be adapted depending on the resources available and the final purpose for which it is built.
Further information
Documents
05 GP_LP01_AGENEX_Extremadura Public Land Rural Bank.pdf
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.