Santo Varão is a 2 MW solar power plant in Portugal, commissioned in 2014. Ranked #38 of 69 solar plants in Portugal, it accounts for 0.34% of the country's total solar capacity of 596 MW. The largest solar plant in Portugal is Solara4 at 219 MW, making Santo Varão 109.5 times smaller. Nearby plants include Lares (826 MW, Gas), Cogeração da Figueira da Foz (95 MW, Biomass), and Caramulo (90 MW, Wind). The facility is situated in the central region of Portugal, about 50 km from Coimbra.
12 years old
Portugal, Europe
- Primary Fuel Type
- Solar
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
Portugal- Continent
- Europe
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Solar power generation harnesses the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells or solar thermal systems to produce electricity. The basic principle of solar power generation involves converting sunlight into usable energy. When sunlight hits a PV cell, it excites electrons in the semiconductor material, generating an electric current. This process is known as the photovoltaic effect. Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, use sunlight to heat a fluid that, in turn, produces steam to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Both methods provide a clean and renewable energy source that is gaining significant traction worldwide.
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