The plant
The Pego thermal power plant, which began operating in 1993, closed its doors in November 2021 when its operating licence expired. The Portuguese Government opened a public tender looking for initiatives that would not only pave the way for decarbonisation but also promote employment and the economy in the area, while also contributing to electrification, the foundation for a sustainable economy.
The renewable energy project
At Endesa, we managed to win the tender and were awarded a 224 MVA connection right to install over 600 MW of renewable energy, with a mix of solar and wind sources, along with 340 MWh of integrated storage. Pego will not only be a hybrid renewable project, but it will also have the largest storage battery in Europe.
In this way, and with an investment of €600 million, we will help position Portugal at the European forefront in terms of the development and use of these energies.
Energy transition plan: socioeconomic development
In addition to developing renewable sources, we are also developing a social and economic plan for the area, a key pillar on which the success of the proposal rested. While the electricity hybridisation and storage model will enable nearly 6,000 hours of production, the socio-economic growth plan will create 75 permanent direct jobs in the region.
Furthermore, we have also designed a training plan of over 12,000 hours that will enable the professional reskilling of more than 2,000 people. This will include courses ranging from the construction and assembly of solar plants to the operation and maintenance of plants, helping to boost the future career prospects of unemployed people in the area and generate new opportunities for growth and wealth in the Abrantes Region. In addition, one of our priority commitments is that the majority of the jobs created are aimed at former workers of the Pego coal-fired thermal power plant.
Today we have already trained over 700 professionals in the region, delivering 42 courses with more than 3,000 hours of training.
Creating Shared Value
Our commitment to the development of communities is framed within our Creating Shared Value (CSV) Policy and aims to maximise the value of these projects for the local environment. In this case, Pego will become a space for biodiversity, where technological projects will be combined with the primary and secondary sectors.