EDPR Starts Iberian Peninsula's First Hybrid Solar and Wind Energy Park

EDP Renewables (EDPR) has just connected its first international hybrid plant to the grid, combining wind and energy production on a single site.

This is the first park of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula to combine the two different technologies, further contributing to decarbonisation and increasing the presence of renewable energy on the electrical grid.

The Mina de Orgueirel Solar Plant was opened next to the Mosteiro Wind Park in Sabugal municipality, Portugal, with a direct connection to the substation, taking full advantage of the electrical infrastructure already in place and creating a hybrid electricity production complex.

This new solar plant provides an installed capacity of 8.4 MW with over 17,000 bifacial solar panels which, as the name would imply, are capable of capturing solar irradiance on both sides of the panel, thereby maximising renewable energy production.

The wind park has eight turbines and a total installed capacity of 11 MW, including a more powerful turbine installed as part of an over-equipment project. Since its commissioning in 2004 the park has produced over 350 GWh of clean energy.

The hybrid project is capable of producing up to 39.5 GWh per year, enough to provide over 30,000 people with renewable energy over the course of one year. The hybrid complex will also help prevent the emission of approximately 18,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

"The commissioning of EDPR's first hybrid wind/solar park is a reflection of our pioneering and innovative spirit as well as a deepening of our commitment to energy transition within our core business regions. By taking this hybrid approach we will be able to increase the amount of electricity produced within the region as well as minimise the impact of new undertakings in renewables by maximising use of the pre-existing infrastructure. We fully intend to carry on investing in the hybridisation of parks held in our portfolio, both in Portugal as well as in other regions with strong development potential", states Duarte Bello, EDPR executive director for Europe and Latin America.