This situation began a long time ago. In 2021, The Portugal News spoke to the Pró Barrocal Algarvio (PROBAAL) - Group of Environmental Defence when the implementation of a solar power plant in Barrocal was just a rumour. At the time, they heard that landowners had been contacted to sell their properties, but official entities never confirmed that this prospect would materialise - but it did.

“For the last two years PROBAAL has been working in to try and discover the details of the project, from agencies such as APA, CCDR Algarve, DGEG, the Câmara of Tavira and even Iberdrola themselves, with little luck. From our recent experience, it seems that while a solar project is in the planning stages, a wall of silence exists around it. People are upset and angry that there was no way for them to know information earlier about the project until it was at such an advanced stage”, PROBAAL said.

Credits: TPN; Author: Paula Martins;

The environmentalists argue that the photovoltaic plant, with 175,798 solar panels, will affect the infiltration zone of the Peral/Moncarapacho aquifer, due to the need to dig, remove stones and eradicate bushes, "destroying what allows the water flowing through that valley to infiltrate the aquifer".

Credits: TPN; Author: Paula Martins;

According to the association, the solar plant will be 1.5 square kilometres of panels and there are 21 pylons planned to cross an area close to Cerro São Miguel and then continue to the substation outside Estoi.

“People who are discovering that these pylons are planned to be built close to their homes or that they would have high-tension cables passing overhead, are very deeply concerned about the negative impacts on their lives and their health”, they said.

Credits: TPN; Author: Paula Martins;

In addition to the destruction of fauna and flora, PROBAAL considers that one of the most negative impacts of the solar plant will be the battery storage area, “which would consist of 14MW of lithium-ion batteries”. According to them: “These types of batteries are so unpredictable and prone to spontaneous ignition that airlines have banned them from being carried inside the holds of aircraft”.

Credits: TPN; Author: Paula Martins;

The project is promoted by Iberdrola Renewables Portugal, which estimates that the photovoltaic plant will produce an annual average of around 144 GWh (Gigawatt-hour), will involve an area of 154,000 hectares, covering the municipalities of Faro, Tavira, São Brás de Alportel and Olhão.

The Environmental Impact Assessment is in public consultation until 20 July. If you would like to comment on this situation, please participate at https://participa.pt/pt/consulta/central-solar-fotovoltaica-de-estoi

If you need help with participating, please, see the links below:

EN: https://www.probaal.org/en/colibri-wp/

FR: https://www.probaal.org/fr/accueil/

Author

Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252

Paula Martins