EDP launches Europe’s largest solar power plant in Portugal

EDP Renewables commissions the Cerca photovoltaic plant, marking a significant step forward in Portugal's energy transition with 202 MWp of capacity.

Share:

EDP centrale solaire Portugal

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

EDP Renewables ‘ Cerca plant in the Lisbon district is the company’s largest solar installation in Europe. With a capacity of 202 MWp, the plant is equipped with over 310,000 bifacial solar panels, optimizing the conversion of solar energy into electricity. The commissioning of Cerca is in line with EDP’s aim of playing a key role in Portugal’s energy transition, while the company also has plans to build a green hydrogen power plant in the country.

Responding to solar tenders

Cerca is the first large-capacity solar power plant developed by EDP Renewables following the 2019 public tender. This project testifies to EDP’s ability to build ambitious facilities in a complex context, marked by the challenges of the pandemic, geopolitical tensions and rising raw material costs. The plant directly supplies 100,000 homes, avoiding the emission of 170,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Environmental impact and contribution to the network

With an estimated annual output of 330 GWh, the Cerca plant makes a significant contribution to renewable energy production in Portugal. This project is part of EDP Renewables’ wider drive to accelerate energy transition and promote clean energy. By preventing the emission of millions of kilometers traveled by car, Cerca strengthens Portugal’s position in the fight against climate change.

Global expansion and investment in solar power

EDP Renewables is not limited to the Portuguese market, investing in solar power worldwide. Notable projects include installations in Brazil, Mexico and Vietnam, testifying to EDP’s global approach to the solar sector. By 2026, the company plans to devote half of its worldwide investments to solar projects.

In addition to solar installations, EDP is developing hybrid projects combining wind and solar power, as in Penela and Ansião. These initiatives aim to maximize the use of renewable resources and optimize connection to the electricity grid. EDP Renewables has set itself the target of bringing an additional 1 GW of renewable energy on stream in Portugal by 2026, reinforcing its contribution to the country’s decarbonization.

With 16.8 MWp of capacity, the Triticum plant in Bavaria marks a strategic investment for MaxSolar, strengthening the agrivoltaic model in the German energy landscape.
Greencells has signed a partnership with Belgian company 3E to transfer over 3 GW of solar and storage capacity to SynaptiQ, a central monitoring and analytics platform.
Spanish group Grenergy has signed an agreement to sell seven solar projects with a total capacity of 88 MW to Ecopetrol, as part of its asset rotation strategy.
Zenith Energy has launched a tender for the construction of three solar plants totalling 7 MWp in Italy, with expected bank financing covering up to 90% of costs.
JA Solar unveils a pioneering white paper on photovoltaic systems in arid regions, with a module designed to withstand extreme desert conditions and improve long-term energy yield.
Shikoku Electric Power lowers its acquisition threshold for solar projects to 500kWAC and calls for proposals to develop floating plants on reservoirs of at least 15,000m².
Canadian Solar has started delivering non-fossil certificates from a new 20 MWAC solar plant in Okayama under a 25-year virtual power purchase agreement with a Japanese company.
Ecopetrol has reached a conditional agreement to acquire seven companies holding photovoltaic projects across four Colombian departments, for a total potential of 88.2 MWp.
Three photovoltaic plants will receive financing structured by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to strengthen Romania's electricity capacity and attract private capital to the sector.
Loiret Energie and Terres d’Energie Développement will invest €15mn in a 31.5-hectare agrivoltaic farm in La Ferté Saint-Aubin, combining electricity production and organic cattle farming.
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund makes its first acquisition outside the FIT scheme with a 1.1 MW solar plant in Tsukuba, valued at ¥253.5mn ($1.7mn), under a corporate PPA agreement.
The agreement will enable Bisleri to meet 48% of the electricity needs at its Sahibabad site through solar power supplied by Sunsure, cutting annual CO₂ emissions by nearly 2,700 tons.
Vikram Solar has commissioned a new 5 GW automated plant in Vallam, Tamil Nadu, raising its total capacity to 9.5 GW and marking a key milestone in its industrial expansion strategy in India.
Norwegian group Scatec is developing a 1.1 GW solar plant with 200 MWh of storage for Egypt Aluminium, under a 25-year contract backed by the EIB, AfDB and EBRD.
GreenYellow has signed a major energy deal with Dohome to deploy 10.5 MWp of solar and 13 MWh of storage across 15 sites, marking one of the largest hybrid projects in Thailand’s retail sector.
ENEOS Renewable Energy will develop two solar installations totalling 4MW on a decommissioned JR Hokkaido line, under a power supply agreement signed with the railway company and the regional electric utility.
RWE has commissioned a project combining 200 MW of solar and 100 MW of battery storage in Milam County, Texas, addressing the growing electricity demand and expanding its operations in the United States.
EDP has launched operations of a rooftop solar plant at Johnson Electric’s site in Asti, targeting an annual output of 400 MWh to strengthen the manufacturer’s energy autonomy and stabilise electricity costs.
PowerField increased its operational capacity to 300 MWp by integrating seven new solar parks, developed or acquired before construction, across four Dutch provinces.
Idex has inaugurated a photovoltaic power plant spanning 14,500 m² at Ainterexpo's parking area, developed in partnership with Grand Bourg Agglomération under a 30-year operating model.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.