Portugal has announced the initiation of a tender process on a Sunday for a project described as the supply, installation, and commissioning of a floating photovoltaic system. The base price for this initiative is set at 45 million euros. The project aims to form part of a broader effort around renewable energy development and is positioned as a landmark among Europe’s floating solar initiatives.
The announcement, issued by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture and Food, highlights the Alqueva reservoir in the Alentejo region, situated on the Guadiana River near the border with Extremadura in Spain. The procedure is organized by the Alqueva Development and Infrastructure Company and targets the installation of four self-consumption production units along with pump stations within the Alqueva Primary Multi-Purpose Entrepreneurship Network. The estimated annual production is about 90 gigawatt hours, which the Ministry states could power roughly two-thirds of the Baixo Alentejo region, a population area exceeding 100,000 residents.
reduce pollution
Electricity generation will come from photovoltaic panels mounted on floating structures that feed directly into pump stations. Officials indicate the system will be used primarily for self-consumption, aligning with regional goals to enhance energy resilience while reducing reliance on conventional grids. The project envisions a total installed capacity of around 52 megawatts peak and an on-water footprint of roughly 42 hectares. Early estimates suggest the deployment would involve about 100,000 solar panels distributed across the water surface. The government asserts that this approach could prevent approximately 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year. Alqueva, recognized as the largest reservoir in Western Europe, currently hosts nine photovoltaic plants, with two of them being floating installations as part of the ongoing diversification of the region’s energy portfolio. [citation needed]