Tavira solar farm would require felling 528 trees – Portugal Resident

Posted on November 4, 2026 by Now.Solar

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A planned 70-hectare solar farm in Tavira, in the parish of Cachopo, would require the removal of 527 holm oaks and one cork oak, according to environmental documents now open for public consultation.
The proposed Terra Ruiva photovoltaic plant is planned for an area of the Serra do Caldeirão mountain range, near the villages of Alcarias de Baixo and Amoreira.

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has opened the public consultation on the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment, with members of the public able to submit comments until December 9.
The scheme would have a total installed capacity of 53.42 megawatt-peak (MWp) and include solar panels and associated infrastructure across land currently occupied by scrub, holm oaks and stone pines.
A new 1.5-kilometre high-voltage overhead line, supported by 10 pylons, is also planned to connect the plant to the Tavira electrical substation.
The project is being promoted by C.Solar NE14 Brinqueira, SA, part of Chint Solar Portugal.

1,368 trees proposed in compensation

According to the Environmental Impact Study, construction would require the removal of 527 holm oaks and one cork oak. To compensate, the developer proposes planting 1,368 holm oaks across 8.71 hectares of land in Cachopo leased for 20 years.
The promoters argue that the solar plant will contribute towards Portugal’s and the European Union’s renewable-energy targets while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
But the environmental study also acknowledges that vegetation clearance and earthworks will alter soil conditions, increasing compaction and erosion. It concludes, however, that with the replacement of topsoil and planned landscape restoration, the impact on soil and land use would be “negative and of little significance”.
The predicted effects on flora and fauna are given the same classification, with the developer arguing that they will be largely limited to the areas directly affected and the construction period.

13 months of construction

The plant is expected to take around 13 months to build and have an operational lifespan of 30 years.
The promoters also point to temporary economic benefits during construction, including jobs and additional spending on local accommodation, restaurants and businesses.
They describe the socioeconomic impact as positive but limited in scale.
The public consultation began on October 27 and remains open until December 9.
Anyone wishing to examine the Environmental Impact Assessment or submit comments can do so through the Participa public consultation portal.
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.

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