Portugal: New energy minister announces first RE auction for Q2 2019
In addition to unveiling Portugal’s first renewables auction, State Secretary for Energy João Galamba has said he will fight speculation in the large-scale solar business, and introduce both longer timeframes for project construction and stronger penalties.
Use of PV can reduce diesel consumption in energy-intensive cultivation in southern Europe
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese scientists have published a study about energy consumption and the environmental footprint of the use of solar-hybrid irrigation systems in olive plantations in Portugal and Morocco.
Portugal: A further 1.7 GW of PV projects under review
Portugal’s Directorate General for Energy and Geology is reviewing another big bunch of “unsubsidized” solar schemes.
Another 145.5 MW of utility-scale solar gets green light in Portugal
Including the latest three projects, the country’s total approved large-scale solar capacity has surpassed 1 GW. The developer is Escalabis Solar and total investment is expected to reach €81 million.
Portugal’s regulator greenlights plan to expand grid capacity
The plan is necessary to the further development of big solar parks in the southern part of the country. Overall, €474 million will be invested in grid enhancement over the next four years.
Acciona secures short-term PPA in Portugal
The Spanish renewable energy company will sell power to a local glass container producer for a year and a half. The electricity will be provided by its 45 MW solar park in southern Portugal, as well as by other wind power facilities.
Portugal: Renewables are driving down electricity prices
In March alone, renewable energies covered 103.6% of the country’s total power consumption, a performance which was mainly driven by wind and hydropower. As a result, the average power price on the daily spot market dropped year-on-year, from €43.94/MWh to €39.75/MWh.
Portuguese government sets up task-force to fast-track solar investments
The new entity will have to provide an analysis on the current processes for the approval of utility-scale solar PV projects, and propose new mechanisms for making more room for solar in the local congested grid.
Natixis acquires 25 MW in Portugal
The French corporate and investment bank acquired the project from Hyperion Renewables via its unit for responsible investment solutions, Mirova. The project has already secured a 10-year PPA from local power distributor, Axpo Ibéria.
Cox Energy secures PPA for 660 MW of solar in Spain and Portugal
The power purchase agreement (PPA) relates to large-scale PV projects planned to be operational by 2020. The buyer of the power generated by the solar facilities is Spain’s power provider, Audax. 495 MW of the capacity will be located in Spain, while the remaining 165 MW will be installed in Portugal.
