Voltalia picks up 33 MW of floating solar in Portugal's auction

French renewables company Voltalia SA (EPA:VLTSA) has secured a floating solar project with a capacity of at least 33 MW in Portugal's recent tender, the firm said on Wednesday.

Its Cabril project will be backed by a 15-year power sales contract awarded for a price of EUR 41.025 (USD 44.812) per MWh, according to the announcement.

The solar farm will occupy 33 hectares (81.54 acres) near the Cabril dam in the municipality of Serta. The plant's eventual capacity -- it could rise up to 40 MW -- will depend on final optimisation, Voltalia said.

Voltalia expects to commission the solar park no later than 2026. Once up and running, Cabril could be capable of powering more than 70,300 inhabitants, according to the company.

Voltalia will be in charge of the development, construction and operation of the plant.

“We are keen to build our first floating solar power plant. This experience will create new opportunities in that field in other countries where Voltalia is active”, Voltalia CEO Sebastien Clerc said in a statement.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.092)

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