“The Sophia photovoltaic solar plant, currently under public consultation, will enable the conversion of 135 hectares of eucalyptus into groves of cork and holm oaks, with an estimated planting of around 27,000 specimens of these native trees in the district of Castelo Branco.”, announced Lightsource bp in a statement.
The project and its Environmental Impact Assessment are still in the early stages of development, allowing for detailed adjustments based on recommendations from involved entities.
According to the multinational, the investment amounts to approximately 590 million euros, with the solar plant’s installed capacity reaching 867 MWp (megawatt-peak).
The company also noted that the plant is expected to produce 1,271 GWh (gigawatt-hour) annually, generating energy equivalent to the supply for over 370,000 households.
Located in the municipalities of Fundão, Penamacor, and Idanha-a-Nova, in the district of Castelo Branco, the project “will create more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, mainly during the construction phase (three years),” and the local municipalities “will also receive additional economic and social compensations over the approximately 40-year lifespan of the project.”
“With environmental preservation and enhancement as fundamental pillars, Lightsource bp will implement a comprehensive Green Structure and Landscape Integration Plan, encompassing the reconversion and reforestation of 228 hectares, including 135 hectares currently occupied by eucalyptus.”
According to the company, the plan also includes measures for the recovery of riparian vegetation, the creation of tree and shrub hedges, and the promotion of natural regeneration of thickets and meadows, encouraging species mobility in the project area and its surroundings, and natural erosion control.
“From the design phase, the project was conceived with strict ecological criteria, ensuring the preservation of areas with the highest conservation value, and guaranteeing that the groves of cork and holm oaks will be fully preserved. Additionally, the 421 cork oaks and 1,120 holm oaks to be removed are isolated trees.”
The statement notes that more than 75% of these cork oaks have a diameter of less than 16 centimeters, and in the case of the holm oaks, this value exceeds 85%.
However, the company promises that “a total of around 27,000 cork and holm oaks will be planted, representing 18 times more than those affected.”
Furthermore, it explains that with the maturation of the plantations and associated compensation measures, carbon retention capacity in the project area is estimated to increase by about 225,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over the 40-year operation period.
Present in 18 countries, “Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects,” according to its website.
The company was fully acquired by bp in 2024.
