PortAventura, the theme park and resort near Barcelona, Spain, is planning to install what will be the largest self-consumption solar plant in a European resort, enabling it to derive a third of its energy needs from the sun.

The US$6m (€5.4m, £4.9m) project will see the installation of 22,000 solar panels, giving an installed capacity of 8.5 MWp, and preventing 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted every year ‒ the equivalent, said PortAventura, to the amount of CO2 that would be absorbed by 930,000 trees.

"The solar park is a project that acts as a lever to promote change towards a more sustainable and responsible world," said Fernando Aldecoa, managing director of PortAventura World. "This vision allows us to remain at the forefront and continue to be leaders in sustainability amongst international tourist destinations."

Situated close to the resort, the plant will cover 100,000sq m (328,000sq ft) and is planned for installation in Q2 2020. It will power PortAventura's theme park, waterpark and leisure complex, with three golf courses, a convention centre, six hotels, a beach club, and the only Ferrari Land park in Europe.

The company has in the past announced environmental initiatives, such as a drive to be plastic-free by 2020, and the opening of its first carbon-neutral hotel.