July 7, 2023
Solaria, a leading company in the development and generation of photovoltaic solar energy in Southern Europe, today officially inaugurated its photovoltaic solar plant Casais da Marmeleira 12.1 MW in Portugal. The ceremony was presided over by Ana Fontoura Gouveia, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate of the Portuguese Government, and Pedro Moriyón, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Spanish Embassy in Portugal. The inauguration event took place in Alenquer (Lisbon), where the plant is located.
In addition to this photovoltaic plant, the company already has three other plants in operation, located in Arraiolos (Mendo Marco – 23.3 MW), Elvas (Monte Falcato – 14.1 MW) and Alandroal (Herdade Canhões – 13.7 MW). Solaria is working to build 500 MW in the neighboring country.
In March, Solaria obtained favorable environmental impact statements (EIS) for 375 MW for the Casal de Valeira and Vale Pequeño plants. The achievement of these environmental permits, added to the 63 MW plants already in operation in this country, demonstrates Solaria’s firm commitment to Portugal.
For the development of these new 375 MW projects, together with other plans to be developed in Spain (4,845 MW) and Italy (382 MW), Solaria has reached a preliminary agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the financing of 1,700 million Euros.
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate of the Portuguese Government, Ana Fontoura Gouveia, assured during her speech that “the Portuguese government considers Solaria as a strategic partner for the energy transition”. On the other hand, she also underlined that “photovoltaic solar energy will be key to the supply of clean, cheap and indigenous energy thanks to the introduction of 20.4 GW before 2030. The Iberian Peninsula will be the protagonist of the present and the future of the European Union”.
Along the same lines, Pedro Moriyón, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Spanish Embassy in Portugal, underlined the strategic importance of cooperation in the energy sector between Spain and Portugal.
For his part, Fernando Rodríguez, Solaria’s Business Development Director, pointed out that “the start-up of the Casais da Marmeleira plant is another step in the path towards the change of energy model. A path that intertwines three fundamental axes: decarbonizing our societies, electrifying the economy and increasing energy sovereignty at very competitive prices.”
