Researchers from the University of Évora have concluded in a study that the installed capacity of floating solar systems can exceed the 7 GW target defined in the country’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2030.

Acciona Energía's floating PV plant in Sierra Brava, Extremadura

Image: Acciona Energía

Researchers from the Renewable Energies Chair at the University of Évora in Portugal have concluded in a study on floating photovoltaic systems in Portugal that the installed capacity can exceed the national goal of 7 GW, defined in the National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC) 2030 for PV energy in the electrical sector.

Researchers identified the region of Alentejo in south-central and southern Portugal as the area with the greatest potential as it combines water surfaces and solar resources.

The University of Évora said in a statement that even applying an 85% reduction to the total surface of water available at the national level, “the potential of floating photovoltaic solar energy systems can reach at least an estimated national capacity of 10.8 GW.”

“The analysis results from a mapping of the potential areas for floating photovoltaic solar systems applied in the national territory, establishing a relationship between the availability of solar radiation and the geographical distribution of the bodies of water in the different regions of the country,” said Luís Fialho, a researcher at the University of Évora's Renewable Energies Chair.

The renewable energy department The information shows that the Renewable Energy Chair is currently supervising Sierra Brava, the largest European experimental plant for floating photovoltaic systems, owned by Acciona Energía, which comprises five different technologies with a total power of 1,125 MW.