Portugal receives bids from 12 firms for floating solar auction

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The auction for the installation and operation of photovoltaic plants on seven dams in Portugal received 12 competing projects, environment minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes has told Jornal de Negócios.

The deadline for submitting applications ended last Wednesday at 23:59, with the period for receiving proposals having run since January 29.

Portugal was among the first countries in the world to set a target for carbon neutrality by 2050. The country’s National Energy and Climate Plan sets 2030 targets for emissions reductions, energy efficiency and renewable energy, looking to achieve cost effective carbon neutrality by 2050.

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According to the schedule sent to news agency Lusa, the bidding will take place on 4 April.

The government will auction the exploration of 263 megawatts (MW) of solar energy in seven dams, of which 100 are in Alqueva, the “largest floating solar project in the world,” according to secretary of state for energy, João Galamba.

According to the published order, in the Tagus hydrographic region, 50 MW will be auctioned in Castelo de Bode; 33 MW in Cabril; 42 MW in Alto Rabagão in the north, 17 in Vilar-Tabuaço, 13 MW in Paradela and 8 in Salamonde.

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Matos Fernandes also clarified that the domain title of the auctions “is for 30 years,” and that therefore “production can happen for 30 years,” albeit the auction contract “is for 15 years.”

“Whoever bids, for 15 [years] produces electricity under the conditions that result from the auction. Then they have the other 15 years to produce in the normal market regime,” he said.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Portugal is supporting decarbonisation through a wide variety of measures. A carbon tax introduced in 2016 supports emissions reductions. Coal-fired generation will be phased out in 2021. The country is further developing its large hydropower fleet, including additional capacity of pumped hydro storage.

Portugal is an international leader for integration of wind generation, and auctions introduced in 2019 are driving rapid deployment of PV and battery storage. The country is pushing for better electricity interconnections with the rest of Europe and has set ambitious goals for clean hydrogen.