The floating photovoltaic plant in the Alqueva reservoir, in which EDP invested 6 million, was chosen as the most innovative project in the field of energy among the three finalist projects selected by the European Commission for this year's edition of Sustainable Energy Week.
Alqueva's floating solar power plant, that EDP, won the Sustainable Energy Week Innovation Award, an initiative of the European Commission that annually aims to distinguish innovative energy projects that have had support with community funds.
The announcement was made this Tuesday, having the Portuguese project, an investment 6 million euros from EDP, Beat the rest of the finalists in the public vote, that elapsed until the day 11 June, and who could choose between the Portuguese solar power plant, and the other two finalists, the STEP project – Solutions to Tackle Energy Poverty, which is being implemented in nine European countries, to fight energy poverty, and also the TRAM – Transport: Advanced and Modular, Norway.
the solar park, with 12 thousand photovoltaic panels covering four hectares of the reservoir, and having a power of 5 megawatts (MW), uses the same grid injection point that is already exploited by the hydroelectric plant, following the hybridization trend of different renewable sources, to optimize the use of the electrical network. EDP's floating solar power plant also has a storage component, through batteries.
In addition to the awards for innovation projects, Sustainable Energy Week also had a competition for projects in local communities and another for women in energy, although this year without Portuguese finalists.
In last year's edition, the European Woman in Energy award went to the Portuguese Andreia Carreiro, who is currently director of strategic innovation at Cleanwatts.
