In a statement sent to the Lusa agency, the UÉ explains that the study was conducted by researchers from the Renewable Energies Chair at the Alentejo academy.

The researchers concluded that the installed power in floating photovoltaic solar systems, installed on water surfaces such as lakes or dams, “can exceed the national target” of 7 gigawatts (GW) defined in the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC) for energy from photovoltaics in Portugal.

"The analysis of the results suggests that, at a regional level, it is the Alentejo that has the greatest potential in this area, both in terms of the existing water surface and in terms of solar resources".

According to the UÉ, even applying an 85% reduction to the total available water surface at national level, and with the selection criteria including some technical and environmental issues, the results of this study show that the potential of Floating photovoltaic solar energy systems can achieve at least an estimated national capacity of 10.8 GW.

“The Alentejo, as mentioned, has the largest area available for floating and photovoltaic deployment with 32% of the national total available area, mainly due to the lake (dam) of Alqueva, one of the largest artificial water reservoirs in Europe”, they stress.

The study also indicates that the regions further south of Portugal have “very similar values” of potential solar resource, with the Alentejo region “standing out” by combining a large area available for the installation of these systems.

“The Center region of the country represents 27% and the 3rd largest available area is in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, with 15%”, they add.

Quoted in the statement, the researcher from the Renewable Energy Chair at UÉ Luís Fialho underlines the importance of this study due to “the need to decarbonize our electricity production system through renewable sources, which is key to cheaper and more sustainable electricity”.