Insurance Covers Snow Damage at Grau Roig Solar Plant Amid Heating Network Launch

FEDA director Sílvia Calvó confirmed on Monday that insurance will cover repairs to the snow-damaged panels at the Grau Roig photovoltaic plant, where heavy snow buildup led to structural buckling about a week ago. The plant, designed to handle such loads, stays offline during fixes, with a technical audit underway to pinpoint responsibility among the designer, constructor, or FEDA. Calvó noted it remains too early to assign blame. State Secretary for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility David Forné highlighted early evidence of mounting structure weaknesses that failed to support the snow weight.

Calvó shared these details during the launch of a €2.4 million connection linking the Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany district heating networks, completed ahead of the May deadline. Construction began last May, resolved traffic issues by December, and finished testing last week. The link channels waste heat from the Ctrasa facility in La Comella to 110 buildings across both parishes—exceeding the 101 projected for end-2025—and raises annual production 25% to around 36 GWh from 27 GWh.

FEDA Ecoterm manager Alberto Manzano described the upgrade as essential for growth, maximising Ctrasa heat while allowing the Escaldes plant to focus on cooling. He added that supply limits now outweigh client demand, with no issues post-testing thanks to robust engineering. Calvó emphasised district networks' superiority to standalone boilers, warning that switching Ecoterm users to electric heating would spike demand 7%. FEDA eyes more links in both parishes to cut fossil fuel reliance. Forné framed the project within the 2018 Litec law, predicting long-term policy impacts via lower emissions, and thanked residents for their patience during works.

On pricing, Calvó indicated quarterly reviews by late March—tied to Brent oil prices—could raise district heating tariffs due to Middle East tensions, the Strait of Hormuz closure, and the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Networks in Soldeu and central parishes face the greatest risk, though minimum coverage thresholds apply. "We are monitoring the complicated situation. It all depends on the war's duration, and we'll see the impact at update time," she said, requesting time for calculations. Current rates remain low from earlier favourable markets. Forné confirmed ongoing government oversight.

Electricity prices should stay stable, unlike the 2022 Ukraine crisis. Calvó explained that episode hit amid already elevated costs, poor neighbour supplies, and limited hedging; today, stronger contracts, reliable French nuclear output, and Spanish renewables offer buffers. "We have a more resilient FEDA and can face coming months more calmly," she said. Impacts differ from Ukraine, focusing on oil and gas rather than electricity, with no major power price jumps yet.