Hanwha to build solar power plant in Portugal

Hanwha Group said Friday that it will start the construction work of a solar power plant in Portugal.

The group said its affiliate Hanwha Solar has recently formed a consortium with Martifier Solar, a Portuguese photovoltaic energy firm, to build a 17.6-megawatt solar power plant in Lisbon.

Even though the construction of the power plant was not scheduled to be completed until March next year, officials said it would be possible to start electricity generation in phases from as early as December.

The company expects the plant to provide some 33 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, enough to power about 8,800 households.

Hanwha pinned high hopes on its business in Portugal as it makes extensive use of renewable energies like solar, wind and water power.

Last year, Hanwha Solar built Korea’s largest 2.24 megawatt roof-top photovoltaic plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)