French renewable energy developer Akuo has initiated a crowdfunding campaign aimed at expanding its Santas solar farm in Portugal's Alentejo region to a total capacity of 225 megawatts-peak (MWp). Currently, the solar farm has a capacity of 180 MWp, making it one of the largest solar parks in the country.
The expansion will involve adding 45 MWp to the existing facility. Akuo plans for the enlarged farm to begin generating power in October 2025, with full completion of the project expected by December 2025. Once operational, the expanded solar farm is anticipated to produce approximately 449 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually.
Recently, the Santas solar farm signed two two-year power purchase agreements (PPAs). After these contracts expire, 85% of the farm's output will be sold at a government-regulated rate for a period of 15 years, while the remaining 15% is set to be traded directly on the energy market.
Akuo indicated that the additional capacity from the expansion could be sold under the general regime or via bilateral contracts. This development underscores the company's commitment to enhancing renewable energy production in Portugal.
