The Mother of all Solar Plants Built in Portugal

Wednesday marked the inaugeral run of the world's largest solar power plant, as it pumped electricity into 8,000 southern portugal homes. GE Energy Financial Services, PowerLight Corporation and Catavento Lda are the three companies behind the 11 megawatt powerhouse, which covers 150 acres and is priced at $75 million. Located near the town of Serpa in Portugal's Alentejo region, the area is one of Europes sunniest, with a reputation as both an agricultural spot and a poor part of the world.

The plant was supposed to have the highest solar power capacity, but a recently built solar plant in Germany beat them to it. However, Portugal wins the prize for porximity to the equator, which means the greater sunshine will allow it to produce the most power of all the solar energy plants in the world. The 52,000 photovoltaic modules create more than 20 gigawatt-hours per hour.

Portugal, whose greenhouse gas emissions have soared 37% since 1990 is hoping that this plant will save the country from reliance on foreign energy, and curb Portugal's contribution to global warming. Compared with fossil fuel generation, the solar installation will reduce greenhouse gas emission by more than 30,000 tons per year. On top of that, many hope that this addition will be the start of economic growth in the poor region.

Solarworld, a German company, has just announced plans to build the largest solar energy plant on the American continent, in the state of Oregon. Planned for 2009, the plant would have a capacity of 500 megawatts, and will cost upwards of $500 million.

These large scale forms of renewable energy are what the future of energy is apt to look like. The phenomenol difference in greenhouse gas emissions between traditional energy sources and solar systems mean that the world will have no choice but to convert in the coming years. Companies that are looking ahead to invest in renewable energy will be the ones who come out on top here. Even on a smaller scale, I doubt it too be too long before a large chunk of the homes have their own solar panel energy system.