Portugal remains at the center of the news regarding renewables in recent days.
After the announcement of the Iberian country’s plan that aims at 80% Fer on electricity production by 2026, followed by the news of EDF’s 70 MW floating photovoltaic plant with negative subsidies, the plan for the reconversion of the former coal-fired power plant of Pego, in the central part of Portugal, has also been released.
To win the tender was Endesa, the Spanish subsidiary of Enel, which will take care of the largest hybrid wind-photovoltaic-storage plant in Europe.
In detail, the project involves the replacement of the former 628 MW coal-fired plant with:
- 365 MW of photovoltaic
- a 264MW wind farm
- the largest 168 MW storage battery in Europe.
The plant will also be connected to a 500 kW electrolyzer, for the production of green hydrogen, which will be fed with the excess energy that can not be stored by batteries.
The project – says a press release – will require an investment by Endesa of about 600 million euros.
The reconversion plan, in addition to the technological aspect, involves also the professional training of the staff employed in the coal plant.
More than two thousand workers will therefore be trained by Endesa on the methods and techniques necessary for the installation and maintenance of renewable plants. The courses will also include the study of activities that can be carried out between the solar panels: such as agriculture, livestock or beekeeping.
