Lightsource bp cancels Beira solar project in Portugal

Lightsource bp has abandoned the Beira solar plant project in the Castelo Branco and Idanha-a-Nova municipalities of Portugal. The company stated it will not seek to reformulate the project following an environmental assessment by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), which identified significant negative impacts on ecological systems and land use.

The planned Beira plant was intended to feature 425,600 photovoltaic modules with a total capacity of 266 MW across 524.4 hectares. The company noted that the necessary changes required for a viable reformulation would compromise the project's financial feasibility.

In a separate development, Lightsource bp is reformulating its Sophia solar plant project to address environmental concerns. The new proposal reduces the installed capacity by 34%, from 867 MWp to approximately 573 MWp, and decreases the fenced area by 32%. This revised plan aims to minimize impact by utilizing existing electrical corridors and avoiding areas with future irrigation potential.