Heavy Snow Destroys Andorra's Grau Roig Solar Park
Snow accumulation at 2,050m altitude buckled supports and shattered panels at the 2023-opened facility, halting all energy production as FEDA.
Key Points
- Snow weight at 2,050m buckled supports, broke panels, and collapsed structures at Grau Roig solar park.
- Facility, opened 2023 for 1.2M euros, now generates no energy; production fully suspended.
- Design specs considered snow loads but proved insufficient; possible material quality issues.
- FEDA analyzing causes with contractors, aims to remove panels, redesign, and rebuild quickly.
Heavy snow accumulation this winter has damaged Andorra's Grau Roig solar park at 2,050 metres altitude, with supports buckling and photovoltaic panels breaking under the load, prompting FEDA to suspend all energy production.
As thawing progressed with improving weather, FEDA technical teams inspected the site and found numerous panels on the ground or improperly positioned, their mounting structures collapsed from snow weight—possibly compounded by questionable material quality from the contracted firm. The damage has prevented any generation, affecting the facility opened in 2023 at a cost of 1.2 million euros.
Despite the project's specifications accounting for high-altitude snow loads, wind, and local conditions without winter snow removal, the setup proved insufficiently robust. FEDA has begun in-depth analysis of the damage extent and causes, working with the engineering firm, materials supplier, and installation contractor to pinpoint failures in design, materials, or execution.
The utility aims to clarify responsibilities, remove affected panels, redesign, and rebuild swiftly to minimize production losses. Internal sources report significant frustration at FEDA over the incident. A company statement emphasizes restoring reliable operations as the top priority, though full repair costs remain under assessment.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- Diari d'Andorra•
El parc solar de Grau Roig resulta malmès per la neu acumulada
- Altaveu•
L'acumulació de neu malmet les plaques i obliga a aturar la producció solar del parc de Grau Roig
- El Periòdic•
El pes de la neu malmet el parc solar de Grau Roig i s’investiga si l’estructura o de qualitat en els materials
- Bon Dia•
L’acumulació de neu malmet el parc solar de Grau Roig
- ARA•
Aturada la producció del parc solar de Grau Roig
- Diari d'Andorra•
El parc solar de Grau Roig queda malmès per l’acumulació de neu
- Altaveu•
L'acumulació de neu i la dubtosa qualitat dels materials malmet el parc solar de Grau Roig