“The contractual procedure for the supply, installation and licensing of four Production Units for Self-Consumption (UPAC) together with pumping stations of the Primary Network of the Alqueva Multi-Purpose Enterprise (EFMA) has already been launched by EDIA”, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, in a note sent to Lusa.

According to the executive, this will be the largest floating photovoltaic project in Europe, with an estimated production of 90 gigawatt-hours (GWh)/year.

The base price of the tender is 45 million euros.

In total, the energy obtained by these photovoltaic plants would be enough to supply 2/3 of the population of Baixo Alentejo.

EFMA already has nine photovoltaic plants in operation.

The energy will be produced by photovoltaic panels that will be installed on floating structures, and will then be directed to pumping stations.

The plants will occupy an area of approximately 42 hectares on the water.

It is estimated that around 100,000 photovoltaic panels will be needed, which will avoid the emission of 30,000 tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) per year.