Iberdrola gets enviro nod for 1.2-GW solar project in Portugal

Spanish utility Iberdrola SA (BME:IBE) announced today it has secured the environmental approvals for the 1,200-MW Fernando Pessoa solar farm it plans to build in southwest Portugal.

Located in Santiago do Cacem, near Sines and named after the Portuguese poet, the photovoltaic (PV) plant is scheduled to start operation in 2025. When online, Fernando Pessoa should be capable of generating enough clean energy to meet the annual consumption demand of around 430,000 households.

According to Iberdrola, the facility will be the largest solar park in Europe and the fifth worldwide.

Spanish firm Prosolia Energy is a partner in the solar project. Fernando Pessoa has already secured a grid connection agreement with Portuguese operator REN.

Iberdrola noted it plans to invest some EUR 3 billion (USD 3.3bn) in the Portuguese wind and solar sector over the next years. In 2023, the utility will commence construction works on the 64-MW Carregado and the 37-MW Montechoro I and II solar projects.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.090)

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