A crime against nature: Ancient olive trees uprooted for solar farms in Spain

05/11/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

Centuries-old olive groves in Spain’s Andalusia region are being uprooted to make way for solar energy projects, sparking resistance from farmers who see their livelihoods and cultural heritage threatened.
The regional government uses a Franco-era expropriation law to seize land “in the public interest,” while farmers and activists accuse authorities of prioritizing corporate profits over local agriculture.
Jaén, known as the “olive oil capital of the world,” could lose up to 100,000 trees, devastating small farmers and cooperatives, with some groves dating back over 1,000 years.
Spain’s aggressive push for 81 percent renewable energy by 2030 is clashing with rural sustainability, as solar projects bring few local jobs and risk depopulation, while also raising transparency concerns.
The groves combat desertification and were considered for UNESCO status, but their destruction threatens ecological balance and forces younger generations to leave, raising ethical questions about green energy transitions.

In the sun-drenched plains of southern Spain, a bitter conflict is unfolding as centuries-old olive groves – some dating back to Roman times – are being uprooted to make way for solar energy projects.

The regional government of Andalusia, leveraging a Franco-era expropriation law, has declared the land seizures “in the public interest.” This has sparked fierce resistance from olive farmers who see their livelihoods and heritage under threat. With Spain leading Europe’s renewable energy push, the clash highlights the tension between green energy ambitions and the preservation of agricultural and cultural legacies.

The province of Jaén, often called the “olive oil capital of the world,” is at the center of the dispute. Here, olive trees blanket over 600,000 hectares, forming a landscape so vast it’s known as the “Sea of Olives.” Many of these trees are centuries old, with some exceeding 1,000 years.

Yet, energy companies like Greenalia are securing land – voluntarily or through forced expropriation – to install solar panels, with estimates suggesting up to 100,000 trees could be lost. Farmers like Francisco Campos, 64, call the destruction “a crime,” arguing that fertile agricultural land is being sacrificed for corporate profit rather than local benefit.

The regional government disputes the scale of the impact, claiming only 13,000 trees will be removed – but campaigners and affected landowners remain unconvinced. Rafael Alcalá, a spokesman for opposition groups, says the expropriations amount to “extortion.” Landowners are being pressured into accepting unfavorable leases or facing even lower compensation through forced sales.

The economic toll is stark: Lopera’s olive oil cooperative La Loperana estimates that losing 500 hectares of groves would slash €2 million ($2.3 million) in annual revenue. For small farmers like 67-year-old Juan Campos, whose family has tended the same groves for generations, the loss is existential. “They’re taking away our livelihood,” he lamented.

Solar farms vs. olive groves: The fight for Spain’s countryside

Spain’s aggressive renewable energy targets – aiming for 81 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030 – have made it a European leader in solar and wind power. But critics argued that the rush to decarbonize is sidelining rural communities. Madrid’s push for green energy was also blamed for a blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula in late April. (Related: Green energy experiment by Spain and Portugal fails with power grid collapse and blackout.)

While solar industry groups like UNEF tout economic benefits for local tax revenues, opponents say the projects bring few jobs and devastate traditional agriculture. The conflict has also drawn scrutiny over transparency, with allegations that companies are splitting projects to avoid stricter environmental reviews.

The stakes extend beyond economics. Andalusia’s olive groves were recently considered for UNESCO World Heritage status, recognized for their cultural and ecological significance. The trees combat desertification in a region increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven droughts and fires.

Yet, as solar panels replace ancient groves, farmers warn of a depopulation crisis, with younger generations forced to leave. “My children will have to abandon the village because there won’t be any work,” said Juan.

Legal challenges and protests continue, but time is running out. With expropriations already underway, the battle in Jaén underscores a global dilemma: Can the transition to renewable energy be achieved without sacrificing the very landscapes and communities it aims to protect? For now, the olive trees and the people who depend on them remain caught in the crossfire of progress.

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