University of Évora and Hyperion Renewables Launch Agrivoltaic Study in Évora

CER-UÉ will provide technical and scientific support for the study of alternative land-use options—in agrivoltaic systems—that will result in the establishment of baseline conditions and the design of a pilot agrivoltaic project at the Divor Photovoltaic Plant, located in Évora, a project owned by Hyperion Renewables.

The Divor Photovoltaic Power Plant, which has a signed agreement to feed 200 MVA into the grid by 2029, is currently in the licensing phase, having already undergone an assessment by the Portuguese Environment Authority, which issued a favorable Environmental Impact Statement.

The Divor Photovoltaic Power Plant is expected to produce 554 GW of green electricity annually—equivalent to the consumption of approximately 273,122 households—and will prevent the emission of 118,604 metric tons of CO2 per year.

As the Divor Photovoltaic Plant is a key project in the country’s energy transition, there is a desire within the sector—shared by Hyperion Renewables—to explore methodologies that minimize or optimize the impact on land use. Thus, in collaboration with the University of Évora, the goal is to find a solution that makes it possible to reconcile agriculture with the photovoltaic park.

Throughout the project, the current conditions and scenario at the project site will be analyzed to select agricultural crops with added economic value or to choose livestock farming techniques, including an analysis and assessment of the impacts of different shading regimes on production.

This study will explore conditions with economic potential that contribute to increasing the economic viability of both the photovoltaic plant and the agrivoltaic system—these findings will be useful and replicable at other photovoltaic plants in the municipality or even in other locations across the country, with the necessary adaptations.

Procedures will be employed to ensure the technical compatibility of agricultural production and conservation strategies with the solar installation, designing robust, low-maintenance systems while monitoring key indicators—both agricultural and energy-related.

“Agrivoltaic applications can make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of our economy, with benefits for both farming and solar energy production—a winning combination,” says Luís Fialho, Technical Coordinator of the project and Principal Investigator at the Chair of Renewable Energy at the University of Évora.

“This collaboration marks another important step in Hyperion’s mission to continuously promote sustainable innovation. We believe that the development of new agrivoltaic solutions depends on partnerships like this one, where we can combine experience in solar projects with academic excellence. This innovation is especially important when applied to key national projects, such as the Divor Photovoltaic Power Plant Project,” says Duarte Mourão, Director of Hyperion Renewables.

About CER-UÉvora

Established in 2010, the Renewable Energy Chair at the University of Évora (CER-UÉ) is dedicated to developing technological solutions and solar energy applications for the decarbonization of various sectors of the economy, with the aim of maximizing solar energy’s contribution to the Energy Transition.

CER-UÉ conducts research into the key factors that define the role of solar energy technologies as a solution for the energy transition: photovoltaic power generation or concentrated solar power; thermal or electrical energy storage; solar energy for powering industry and agriculture; and strategies for integrating solar resources and energy systems.

CER-UÉ also leads INIESC—the National Research Infrastructure for Concentrated Solar Power—which, in partnership with LNEG I.P., aims to advance the use and development of concentrated solar power and energy storage technologies to maximize solar energy’s contribution to the Energy Transition.

About Hyperion Renewables

Hyperion is a renewable energy development and investment company founded in 2006 and headquartered in Lisbon, with a track record of excellence in the Iberian Peninsula and operations in several other regions, including a growing presence in Romania, among other markets. With an innovative mindset and a focus on growth, Hyperion is known for its experience, credibility, know-how, quality standards, and continuous excellence in delivering the best projects.

Hyperion firmly believes that the decarbonization of the economy is essential and must be a priority. In this regard, it also believes that solar energy will continue to play a central role as a large-scale renewable source, whether on its own or complemented by other technologies such as wind power, energy storage, and green hydrogen, accelerating the transition toward a cleaner energy future.

Hyperion has a track record of developing more than 50 large-scale solar projects totaling over 640 MW.

Hyperion’s presence in the municipality of Évora began in 2018 with the Vale de Moura Photovoltaic Plant, which has been in operation since 2018 with ~28 MWp installed. As the first photovoltaic plant built without public funding, and with a long-term power purchase agreement with Axpo, it proved to be a major milestone in the history of Hyperion Renewables and the beginning of a fruitful collaboration in the development of clean energy projects in the municipality of Évora.