Controversy photovoltaic plant in Tavira failed, Iberdrola will not appeal

The environmental impact assessment committee for the project Estoi Photovoltaic Power Station, in the Cerro do Leiria area, in the municipality of Tavira, will propose an unfavorable Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), revealed to TSF. Iberdrola, the promoter of the project, will not appeal the decision. 

Despite, in “Participa.pt” website, it has not yet appeared, this unfavorable decision has already been reported by the media.

According to TSF, the Evaluation Commission, which includes, for example, the Coordination and Regional Development Commission and the Portuguese Environment Agency, considered that the plant would «lead to soil erosion, damage the landscape and biodiversity and, in some zones, also ruin the recharge of the Peral-Moncarapacho aquifer, located in that area of ​​the Algarve's Barrocal".

The project caused controversy from the beginning, like the Sul Informação realized, since it was planned to occupy an area of ​​the National Ecological Reserve, «rich in biodiversity», which would be affected by 175 solar panels.

The environmental protection association Pro Barrocal Algarvio (Probaal) was the one who led the challenge, even before the project was officially known.

According to TSF, the evaluation committee also considered that the «minimization and compensation measures presented by Iberdrola for the photovoltaic plant were not sufficient».

In response to this radio, the Spanish company said that it will not appeal the decision… and criticized the Government, since the «location was conditioned» by the executive of António Costa, «who auctioned the electrical connection points».

«In addition, the promoter was obliged to install a battery system with a capacity of 20% of the allocated injection capacity. Based on this condition, a study was carried out prior to the Environmental Impact Study to choose the site with the least impact in terms of heritage, ecological systems or water resources (not occupying, for example, areas of maximum recharge of the existing aquifer)», says Spanish Electric.

Iberdola emphasizes that the chosen area was indeed the “only one that could minimize all impacts as much as possible”.

Thus, given that it does not see another possibility, Iberdola says that it will not “appeal” and will abandon the project.