Critical Times

Portugal has opened one of the biggest solar panel plants in the world.
More than 8000 homes were today enjoying the benefits of the 52,000 panels covering spread over 60ha in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, one of the sunniest spots in Europe.

The panels can generate 11 megawatts of electricity.

GE Energy, one of the companies behind the project, said that while a similar generator just opened in Bavaria, Germany, had a theoretically greater capacity, the plant in Serpa would be more productive because of the greater amount of sunshine.

Costing more than €60 million euros ($99.4 million), it will save an estimated 30,000 tonnes a year of greenhouse gases.

Portugal’s aim is to generate 45 per cent of its energy from renewable sources in the next few years.