Sophia solar project faces environmental opposition in Portugal

Environmental organizations are calling for public participation in the consultation process for the reformulated Sophia solar photovoltaic plant project in the Castelo Branco district of Portugal. The project, proposed by Lightsource BP, covers the municipalities of Fundão, Penamacor, and Idanha-a-Nova.

Critics, including the environmental association Quercus and the Plataforma de Defesa do Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional, have raised concerns regarding the project's scale and transparency. While the developer has reduced the solar panel area by approximately 34 to 36 percent, the total study area has expanded from 3,542 hectares to 3,978.2 hectares.

Environmental groups argue that the redesign may be an attempt to manipulate public opinion. They point out that current legislation allows for a 50 percent increase in power capacity in the future without requiring a new Environmental Impact Assessment, which would necessitate expanding the panel area again. Opponents claim the project poses significant risks to local landscapes, soil, water resources, and the socio-economic identity of the region.