en.Wedoany.com Reported - Iberdrola has developed eight new facilities under its solar community program in Portugal, bringing the total number of projects to 10, including two already fully operational, and is expected to provide over 2,000 participants with access to shared renewable electricity.
This model allows participants to obtain clean electricity through shared generation facilities without the need to install photovoltaic panels or make upfront capital investments, thereby lowering the traditional barriers to renewable energy use. The solar community operates by distributing surplus electricity from local arrays to consumers and businesses within a four-kilometer radius of the facility. These facilities can share approximately 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually, which is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 250,000 kilograms. Compared to standard electricity tariffs, participants in the program can save an average of about 30% on their costs, with no participation fees required.
Pedro Torres, Director of Smart Solutions at Iberdrola Clientes Portugal, stated that solar communities are transforming the way energy is distributed, making it more accessible and collaborative, and by promoting innovative solutions that bring generation closer to consumption, they deliver tangible benefits to local communities and the energy system.
The company entered the Portuguese market in 2004 and operates one of Portugal's largest renewable energy projects—the Sistema Eletroprodutor do Tâmega. This hydroelectric complex involves an investment of over $1.85 billion, with an installed capacity of 1,158 megawatts, including 880 megawatts of pumped storage capacity. Additionally, all seven photovoltaic projects that Iberdrola secured in Portugal's 2019 solar capacity auction are now fully operational, with a total installed capacity of approximately 186.3 megawatts.
In 2024, Iberdrola received the highest rating from Fitch Sustainable for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 26.7 million tons in the previous year.
Whether the solar community model can be replicated in markets outside Portugal remains to be seen, but the structure is adaptable to markets with similar regulatory frameworks. Pedro Torres noted that the current focus is on expanding the benefits of the existing 10 projects, demonstrating that decentralized energy sharing can create measurable value for the communities it serves.
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