WElink Energy breaks ground on 221-MW solar park in Portugal

UK-based firm WElink Energy has launched the construction of what it says will be the largest unsubsidised solar power plant in Europe -- the 221-MW Solara4 project in Portugal.

To be situated in Vaqueiros parish in the southern Portuguese region of Algarve, the photovoltaic (PV) complex is expected to become grid-connected by the middle of 2019, WElink Energy said on Thursday. It will be powered by up to 850,000 modules that will be installed by China Triumph International Engineering Co Ltd under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract signed in March.

Once up and running, the plant is anticipated to generate enough electricity for about 150,000 homes per year.

WElink Energy explained it will be able to implement the project without using government subsidies thanks to the rising competitiveness in the solar sector and the favourable location of the site that has one of the highest solar irradiation levels in Europe. The UK firm said it is pursuing additional projects in Iberia and expects to announce them in due course.

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