Portugal’s Energy Secretary of State has said the country will triple its solar capacity to around 1.6 GW by July 25th, 2018, after the installation of 31 solar schemes worth €800m ($934m) and with a total capacity of more than 1 GW. Portugal already generates more than 100% of its electricity needs using hydroelectric and wind power, but analysts said the addition of solar, alongside battery storage, will enable the country to use solely renewables and export any excess power. The Portuguese government recently suspended subsidies worth around €20m a year to fossil fuel plants kept in standby mode.
Portugal’s Energy Secretary of State has said the country will triple its solar capacity to around 1.6 GW by 2021, after the installation of 31 solar schemes worth €800m ($934m) and with a total capacity of more than 1 GW. Portugal already generates more than 100% of its electricity needs using hydroelectric and wind power, but analysts said the addition of solar, alongside battery storage, will enable the country to use solely renewables and export any excess power. The Portuguese government recently suspended subsidies worth around €20m a year to fossil fuel plants kept in standby mode.