EDP Launches First Hybrid Solar-Hydro Project in Portugal

The Portugal-based energy firm EDP has officially launched a hybrid generation initiative that integrates a 48-megawatt (MW) solar installation with the existing Pracana Hydro Power Plant, which boasts a capacity of 41 MW. Located in Portugal, this project marks a significant milestone as it is the first of its kind for EDP and one of the pioneers globally.

The new energy complex, totalling 89 MW, features a staggering 90,000 solar panels alongside the Pracana facility, which has been operational since 1951 in the central region of the country.

Hybrid Project Milestone for EDP

This initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents EDP’s inaugural hybrid renewable energy project that combines these two technologies, making it Portugal’s first undertaking of this nature.

International Ventures in Australia

Additionally, EDP Renewables is progressing with two significant solar-battery hybrid projects in Australia: Punchs Creek in Queensland, which pairs 400 MW of solar power with a 400 MW / 1,600 MWh battery, and Merino, located near Goulburn in New South Wales, designed to generate 450 MW from solar alongside a 450 MW / 1,800 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Both ventures have successfully secured underwriting agreements through the federal government’s Capacity Investment Scheme.

“Pracana represents another stride in our strategy; by marrying hydropower with onshore solar, we enhance system stability, foster the energy transition, and minimise territorial impact,” stated Pedro Vasconcelos, an executive board member at EDP and the head of the company’s operations in the Iberian Peninsula. “This is EDP’s first project of this sort on a global scale and exemplifies how innovation and efficiency can coexist harmoniously.”

The construction of the solar array commenced in January 2025, with projections indicating an annual output of approximately 87 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of solar energy.