Akuo begins construction of its 180 MW SANTAS solar project, following the signing of financing documents. This solar power plant will become one of the largest in Portugal.
The Santas Solar Power Plant: Clean Energy for the Climate and Local Communities
The Santas solar power plant will comprise 336,448 photovoltaic modules and will have an installed capacity of 180 MWp. Its commissioning will prevent the emission of over 70,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, thereby helping to combat climate change.
Once operational, the solar power plant will supply electricity to over 100,000 homes, with a positive impact on the municipalities of Montforte and Borba. These two towns, with populations of over 3,000 and 7,000 respectively, will become positive-energy communities thanks to the clean energy generated by the plant.
Portugal Pioneers Energy Transition, as evidenced by the Santas Solar Power Plant
The planned date for injecting the electricity generated by the Santas solar power plant into the national grid is the first quarter of 2024. Construction work has already begun, thanks to the collaboration of Akuo’s partners Gensun, Siemens Energy and Painhas, who are responsible for the project.
Portugal is a benchmark for the development of renewable energies within the European Union. Recently, the Portuguese government revised its energy and climate plan for 2030, significantly increasing its target for green energy capacity by 50% to 42.8 GW. The country aims to cover 85% of its electricity production from renewable sources by 2030. Under this strategy, photovoltaic power is set to reach a capacity of 20.4 GW, up from the current 2 GW.
Alliance between Portugal and Akuo on the Santas Solar Power Plant for Energy Independence
Eric Scotto, Chairman and co-founder of Akuo, welcomes the bold and constructive support of the Portuguese government.
“When we won the bid in 2019, the whole industry was struck by our boldness. Thanks to incredible teamwork with our partners, we can now build this project to serve Portuguese citizens: a reliable, green and cheap source of energy that will contribute not only to Portugal’s energy goals, but also to its energy independence. The Portuguese government has always been bold and supportive, and we can only thank them for their vision and confidence,” says Scotto.
