Spanish utility Iberdrola SA announced on Jan. 31 that it has received approval from the environment ministry for its planned 1.2GW Fernando Pessoa solar power project in southwestern Portugal.
The project, located in Santiago do Cassem near Sines and named after the Portuguese poet, is scheduled to begin operations in 2025. After the project is completed, it can meet the annual electricity demand of about 430,000 households. According to Iberdrola, the project will become the largest solar power project in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. The Spanish company Prosolia Energy is a partner in the solar project. Fernando Pessoa already has a grid connection agreement with Portuguese operator REN.
Iberdrola noted plans to invest around 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in Portugal's wind and solar industry over the next few years. In 2023, Iberdrola will begin construction work on the 64 MW Carregado and 37 MW Montechoro I and II solar projects.