Portuguese environmental association www.probaal.org is working to neutralise the threat of a proposed solar power plant of 83 megawatts, to be built on ecological land in the Cerro do Leiria, Tavira, in the Eastern Algarve.
Spanish renewables company Iberdrola plans to invest another €3bn in wind and solar energy in Portugal over the coming years.
At the end of 2022, construction was completed on the Alcochete solar complex (46MW) in the Setúbal district (Lisbon region), where Iberdrola has also completed two other PV facilities: Conde (13.5MW) and Algeruz II (27MW).
In early 2023, construction will begin on the 37MW Montechoro I and II projects in Paderne (Albufeira), and the 64MW Carregado project in Alenquer (Lisbon), while the Estoi solar plant (83MW) in the Algarve, which also includes battery storage, will come on stream in 2024.
Current plans are for Iberdrola to build a 154 hectare solar farm on REN land in the East Algarve Barrocal. This area of unique biodiversity is home to over 300 species of flora and fauna and is the direct infiltration area to the underlying Moncarapacho/Peral aquifer.
Clearing the land here of thousands of trees, bushes and rocks and the subsequent levelling will directly affect the infiltration of rain water, having a devastating effect on the ecosystem and water levels.
As of 19th May 2023, this project is in the public consultation phase, so the more individual participations, the more impact we can have on the halting the process.
Please take a few minutes online to stand up for nature in this community. Anyone has the right to register their opinion or concerns about the solar power plant proposal.
Just visit the www.probaal.org for more information about the project, instructions on how to register and sign the petition. Alternatively you can go to the Portal Participa website directly and submit your contribution.
You can make your voice heard until 30th June 2023.
