Iberdrola brings Setúbal photovoltaic power plant online
The photovoltaic power plan in the Setúbal district, became operational last Friday and is one of seven projects awarded to the company in a 2019 auction.
Iberdrola has brought its Algeruz II photovoltaic power plant in Setúbal online, with the capacity to produce clean energy to supply more than 11,000 homes, the company announced on Tuesday.
Algeruz II has more than 50,500 fixed and single-phase modules and an installed capacity of 27.35 megawatts (MW), allowing it to avoid the emission of 13,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere per year, according to Iberdrola.
The structure in the Setúbal district, became operational last Friday and is one of seven projects awarded to the company in a 2019 auction. This is the first of its kind installed by the group in Portugal, with an investment of €17.8 million.
In the 2019 auction, Iberdrola was the largest awardee, in the number of lots, with a total of seven photovoltaic projects, “three of which are under construction and expected to start commercial operation during this year”: the photovoltaic plants in Conde – Palmela – (13.51 MW), Alcochete I (32.89 MW) and Alcochete II (12.72 MW), also located in the district of Setúbal.
“In addition, the Montechoro I (11.57 MW), Montechoro II (24.95 MW) and Carregado (64.1 MW) projects, awarded in the same auction, are in the process of obtaining the construction license and are planned for 2023, by which time Iberdrola’s photovoltaic capacity in Portugal will total 187 MW,” it added.
Iberdrola has launched a €150bn investment plan over the next decade, €75bn by 2025, to speed up energy transition, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat the effects of climate change.
The company has 92 MW of wind power in operation, in addition to the hydroelectric plants of Daivões (conventional plant) and Gouvães (pumping plant), on the Tâmega River, next to which the construction of a large wind farm with a total planned capacity of 400 MW is planned.
“This will allow users to consume wind energy during periods of peak demand and use the surplus to feed the pumping system, helping to improve the system’s efficiency and guarantee the supply of electricity,” the power utility explained.
