The president of the Sertã Municipality, Carlos Miranda, expressed strong objections to the Central Government’s decision regarding a new project, describing it as a significant display of “arrogance.” He highlighted the inconsistency that municipalities are prohibited from undertaking development projects around reservoirs, yet the Central Government deems it appropriate to develop “33 hectares of photovoltaic panels within the reservoir itself.”
The proposed Cabril Floating Photovoltaic Plant, by the company Voltalia, plans to install over 80,000 floating solar panels across more than 33 hectares of the water surface area of the Cabril reservoir, impacting the municipalities of Sertã (Castelo Branco district), Pedrógão Grande (Leiria), and Pampilhosa da Serra (Coimbra).
The project also includes the construction of two aerial electrical lines to the substation of Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) in Penela (Coimbra).
The Sertã municipality expressed that “since becoming informally aware of this intention – it should be noted that the municipality was never consulted and only learned about it through the media – it has adopted an institutional stance opposing this project.”
The Sertã municipality holds that implementing the project contradicts the Cabril, Bouçã, and Santa Luzia Reservoir Planning Regulation (POAC), as it transforms an area intended for public enjoyment into a space for private and industrial use, jeopardizing its recreational and touristic value.
The municipality also stressed that the project does not align with activities outlined in the POAC Regulation, “violating principles of sustainability and responsible management of natural resources.”
Beyond legal considerations, the Sertã municipality presented additional arguments against the photovoltaic plant based on environmental, sustainability, and natural preservation concerns.
Primarily, it underscores the potential threat to water quality, which supplies the Lisbon region and surrounding areas of the reservoir, highlighting risks such as microplastic contamination, toxic algae growth, and deterioration of the ecological balance.
The municipality contends that the installation will affect terrestrial wildlife, particularly birds, leading to reduced local biodiversity.
“Besides disrupting ecological balance, this installation will also pose a threat to civil safety in a region with a history of forest fire catastrophes, compromising the operational procedures and response efficiency of civil protection agents in combating fires,” the municipality stated.
The municipality further noted the “significant visual and scenic impact” the project will have in an area where the Cabril reservoir holds substantial historical, social, cultural, and touristic value.
