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Iberdrola has received the final environmental approval from the Portuguese government to construct the largest wind farm in the country. This marks a significant advancement in the company’s expansion into Portugal, fostering the transition to a decarbonized economic model. By focusing on renewable energy sources, Iberdrola aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhancing energy security and autonomy through clean, locally-produced power.
The new wind farm, with a capacity of 274 MW, will be built in Vila Real, Braga, and can power 128,000 households. This is the largest hybridisation project in Portugal, utilizing the grid injection point already established at the Tâmega hydroelectric complex. It is also the first project in the country to combine wind and hydro power.
The company has secured the second and final favorable environmental authorization for the Tâmega Eólico project, known as DCAPE (“Decisão da Conformidade Ambiental do Projeto de Execução” – Decision of Environmental Conformity of the Execution Project). This approval from the Portuguese environmental agency, APA (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente), confirms that the construction project meets all the conditions and measures outlined in the favorable Environmental Impact Statement obtained by Iberdrola in March 2023.
The Tâmega hydroelectric project is one of the largest undertaken in Europe in the last 25 years. It includes three power plants: the Alto Tâmega Hydroelectric Power Plant with a capacity of 160 MW, the Gouvães Pumped Storage Power Plant with 880 MW, and the Daivões Power Plant with 118 MW, both of which became operational in 2022.
Together, these plants will have a total installed capacity of 1,158 MW, increasing the country’s total installed electrical power by 6%. The complex will generate 1,766 GWh annually, sufficient to meet the energy needs of nearby municipalities and the cities of Braga and Guimarães, totaling 440,000 households. Additionally, this extensive renewable infrastructure will have the capacity to store 40 million kWh, equivalent to the energy consumed by 11 million people in their homes over 24 hours.
