Insurance Covers Snow-Damaged Grau Roig Solar Panels as FEDA Unveils Heating Network Link

FEDA director Sílvia Calvó confirmed on Monday that insurance will cover repairs to the snow-damaged solar panels at the Grau Roig facility, while a technical audit examines structural shortcomings.

The panels buckled under heavy snow loads despite design expectations for such conditions. Calvó told reporters in Andorra la Vella that investigators have pinpointed a weakness in the mounting system. "We cannot yet assign blame," she said, pending results that could implicate the designer or builder. The plant stays shut for fixes and checks, with no restart timeline given. Energy generation had performed well beforehand.

Calvó shared these details at the unveiling of a new link between the district heating networks of Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany. Completed ahead of schedule at a cost of €2.4 million, the pipe system now channels recovered heat from the waste valorisation centre to clients across both parishes. This raises annual output by 25%, from 27 GWh to about 36 GWh, supporting 110 buildings—up from 101 at the end of 2025.

FEDA Ecoterm manager Alberto Manzano described the upgrade as essential for expansion, easing pressure on the Escaldes-Engordany plant to focus solely on cooling while maximising waste heat use. Works began last May, with traffic disruptions ending by December; testing wrapped up last week, confirming smooth operation. "Our engineers put in rigorous effort, and everything runs as planned," Manzano said.

Calvó called district heating a cornerstone of energy transition, more efficient than individual systems and curbing electricity demand. Connected buildings opting for electric heat instead would have spiked usage by 7%. FEDA eyes further growth by linking sites in both parishes.

State Secretary for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility David Forné framed the project within Andorra's 30-year strategy under the 2018 Litec law. It cuts fossil fuel dependence and emissions for public and private buildings alike. He thanked residents for tolerating construction impacts.

On costs, Calvó noted quarterly tariff reviews by late March might raise heating rates, linked to rising Brent oil amid Middle East strife and the Strait of Hormuz shutdown. Soldeu and central parish networks face the biggest hits, though safeguards apply. "Calculations are ongoing," she said, adding that rates stay affordable from past low markets. Electricity prices hold steady, with Andorra better shielded than during the 2022 Ukraine crisis thanks to French nuclear imports, Spanish renewables, and stronger hedges. "Our resilience lets us approach the months ahead steadily," Calvó affirmed. Forné said the government tracks oil fluctuations closely.