Europe PV News Snippets: DGEG, APREN, Vattenfall

• Portugal's largest solar PV project to date with 219 MW capacity has come online with DGEG granting it operating license
• Renewable energy trade bodies in Portugal, APREN and APESF have become a single entity to develop PV sector
• Vattenfall to add 4 times the capacity of wind and solar to the grid compared to current capacity

219 MW solar project online in Portugal: The Directorate General of Energy and Geology (DGEG) in Portugal has announced issuing an operating license to what it calls as the largest solar PV plant in the country and the largest unsubsidized project in Europe. The 219 MW Alcoutim Photovoltaic Plant or Solara4 Project is equipped with 660,000 solar panels each with an output of between 330W and 340W. Located in Martim Longo in Alcoutim municipality of Portugal, the solar power plant has 125 inverters, 40 transformer stations and is connected to the national grid through Tavira substation. DGEG said such projects are essential for the nation to decarbonize its energy sector, while contributing to the renewable energy targets set under the PNEC 2030.

Back in February 2019, Ireland's Welink Investment Holding secured a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Audax Renovables for a 708 MW unsubsidized solar power portfolio which comprised both Solara4 Project and 46 MW Ourika project (see PPA Signed For 708 MW Unsubsidized PV Capacity).

Portuguese RE trade bodies merge: The Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN) and the Portuguese Association of Companies in the Photovoltaic Sector (APESF) have merged to operate under the single brand of APREN. The associations have taken the step to develop the solar PV sector of Portugal, they stated.

Vattenfall's 2030 emission reduction targets: Swedish energy company Vattenfall has increased its emission reduction targets for 2030 as it aims to achieve a net zero status by 2040. Measures it will incorporate to ensure the achievement of this target is to add 4 times the capacity of wind and solar to the grid compared to its existing operational capacity. It wants to phase out coal completely from all operations by 2030, by switching its last 2 coal-fired heat assets to a combination of biomass, heat pumps, power-to-heat and natural gas. It believes the new targets will help keep global warming at a maximum of 1.5º Celsius and in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).