(AOF) – Voltalia, an international player in renewable energies, announces the full commissioning of its new Portuguese Garrido complex consisting of five solar power plants for a total capacity of 50.6 megawatts. The construction of the Garrido project complex was launched in September 2022. It reached full power after a phased commissioning which began in March 2023.
The first kilowatt hours concerned the sites of Vale Serrão (2.4 megawatts), Pinhal Novo (11.8 megawatts) and Alcochete (23.8 megawatts). The rest of the capacity, including that of the Oliveira de Frades (1.2 megawatts) and Antuzede (11.4 megawatts) sites, has just been connected to the network.
The entire capacity of the complex is secured by long-term Corporate PPAs, including that with the industrial company BA Glass, a European leader in the production of hollow glass for the beverage and food industry. Companies that consume the carbon-free electricity produced will prevent the emission into the atmosphere of 46,685 tonnes of CO2 each year.
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The challenges of water recycling
According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the demand for water will jump by 55% by 2050. However, only 11% of water is recycled worldwide, with strong disparities depending on the country: if this rate reaches 89% in Israel, it drops to 15% in Spain. It is even less than 1% in France! The leader of Veolia nevertheless estimates that the rate of 10% targeted by 2030, within the framework of the new Water plan announced by the authorities, is achievable under certain conditions. First and foremost is administrative simplification. Veolia is committed to tripling its production of recycled water by 2030 to bring it to 3 billion m3. In this field, the world leader in environmental services strengthened its know-how during its takeover bid on the former Suez group.