Lisbon council calls for bids for solar energy plant to supply buses

  • Lusa
  • 27 February 2020

The construction of the photovoltaic plant is part of a "sustainable mobility strategy" in which the Lisbon council intends to promote "the substitution of fossil fuels".

The Lisbon City Council has unanimously approved the launch of a new tender for the construction of a photovoltaic energy plant in Carnide, for two million euros, after the first one was abandoned.

The construction of the photovoltaic plant is part of a “sustainable mobility strategy” in which the council intends to promote “the substitution of fossil fuels by electric energy for the supply of municipal public transport vehicles”, says the proposal signed by councillors José Sá Fernandes (Environment) and João Paulo Saraiva (Finance).

According to the document, the deadline for implementation is set at 210 days, “of which 30 days are defined for the preparation of the project implementation, and the remaining 180 days are for completion of the work, plus 730 days for operation and maintenance of the photovoltaic plant.

The council, led by socialist Fernando Medina, also proposes that the investment be spread over three years, with the council investing €100,000 this year, two million next year and €10,600 in 2022.

In May last year, the council had already approved the signing of this contract, with a base value of two million euros.

In July 2018, the city council estimated to have a photovoltaic plant operating in Carnide in 2020, to supply electric vehicles and reduce fossil energy in the city.

Sá Fernandes said at the time he estimated that by 2020 the capital would have a tram line, 20 buses and 50 waste collection vehicles to be supplied with solar energy.

The plant is expected to have an initial capacity of 2 megawatts (MW).