CONSTRUCTION WORK has begun near Serpa, 200km south of Lisbon in the Alentejo, on what is set to be the world’s largest solar power station. When it is fully operational, next January, the 58 million euro plant will produce enough electricity for 8,000 homes.
The 11-megawatt solar power plant, to be made up of 52,000 photovoltaic modules, has been developed by Portuguese renewable energy company Catavento, in conjunction with UK solar polar provider Powerlight, and funded by General Electric Energy Financial Services.
“The Serpa solar power project, along with other renewable energy initiatives, helps lay the foundation for Portugal’s energy future,” Catavento’s Piero Dal Maso said, adding, “the project takes maximum advantage of the excellent environmental conditions in Portugal for solar power. It should provide enough energy for 8,000 homes, and save 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is probably around one per cent of the domestic consumption of Portugal.”
