11 MW Photovoltaic power plant opened today in Portugal

The European Commission has drawn over a map of Europe the potential for electricity production using solar energy. The red spot – the biggest potential – lies over the south of Portugal, where the sun shines up to 3300 hours per year.

With 11 MW, the PV plant opened today in Portugal (Serpa) is the biggest in the world, comprising 52 000 PV panels that will transform solar energy into electricity for about 8000 persons. The project was developed by a group of companies (General Electric, PowerLight and Catavento) and will be followed by a new central just a few kilometres away with 62 MW.

Another company (Eurosolar) believes that, due to the huge potential, is more profitable to build smaller plants closer to the consumer. This company has a project to build 260 small stations in the south of Portugal in the coming years.