<h2>Alto Rabagão Solar Dam</h2>
The world&#8217;s first power plant combining hydroelectric and solar power is now operational in Portugal. The Alto Rabagão dam has been outfitted with <a href="http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/view/45793/creating-the-ultimate-hybrid-system-by-mixing-solar-energy-and-hydroelectricity/" target="_blank">840 floating solar panels</a>, which increase the plant’s total capacity of 68 MWh by 220 kWp. Within its first year, the station should generate 332 megawatt hours, enough to power 100 homes for a year.
<figure style="width: 360px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://futurism.com/images/the-worlds-largest-floating-solar-farm-infographic/"><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2016/09/solar-farm_home_v1-900x600.png" alt="The World&#8217;s Largest Floating Solar Farm [INFOGRAPHIC]" ></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text center"><a href="https://futurism.com/images/the-worlds-largest-floating-solar-farm-infographic/" target="_blank">Click to View Full Infographic</a></figcaption></figure>
The panels were created by <a href="http://www.ciel-et-terre.net/" target="_blank">Ciel &amp; Terre International (C&amp;T)</a>, developers of the <a href="http://www.ciel-et-terre.net/essential_grid/floa/" target="_blank">floating solar system Hydrelio</a>. The system is designed to allow ecologically friendly floating photovoltaic (FPV) panels made out of recyclables to be installed on large bodies of water rather than eating up valuable space on land.
Additionally, the panels partially shield the water, which helps to slow evaporation and the growth of algae. The panels also reduce waves within the reservoir, cutting down on the erosion of its banks.
<h2>Future Directions</h2>
The main goal behind C&amp;T&#8217;s FPV panels is to generate energy while maximizing the use of an artificial body of water. Installing the panels on dams makes plants more profitable and produces more energy. The panels collect sunlight during daylight hours, and hydropower can be used during peak demand times and after dark.
C&amp;T estimates that if only 10 percent of the world’s 50 largest dams were outfitted with FPV panels, 400 gigawatts (GW) of solar electricity could be produced.
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lhUdpEpLSMg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hydro-solar-plant_us_595f96dee4b02e9bdb0c0fa6?section=us_green" target="_blank">According to </a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hydro-solar-plant_us_595f96dee4b02e9bdb0c0fa6?section=us_green" target="_blank">The Huffington Post</a>, if the Alto Rabagão dam project succeeds, the system might be used to meet the power demands of other countries. One of those could be Brazil, where the utility behind the project, Energias de Portugal (EDP), does business on a large scale. “It has all the ingredients to succeed, a solution of this kind,” EDP project manager Paulo Pinto <a href="http://www.dn.pt/lusa/interior/edp-inaugura-hoje-projeto-fotovoltaico-na-barragem-do-alto-rabagao-8613806.html" target="_blank">told the </a><a href="http://www.dn.pt/lusa/interior/edp-inaugura-hoje-projeto-fotovoltaico-na-barragem-do-alto-rabagao-8613806.html" target="_blank">Diário de Notícias</a>.
Portugal has created the right climate for the project&#8217;s success by promoting strong renewables policies. The country also enjoys annual sunshine duration of 2,500 hours and a high potential for FPV solutions due to its existing hydropower capacity. The hybrid solution in this case presents a great example of how existing energy systems can be enhanced by newer technologies to create better clean energy solutions.

Earth & Energy

This hybrid plant could help solve the world's energy problem.

The World’s First Power Plant Combining Hydroelectricity and Solar Energy Is Now Open

Two clean energies are better than one.

Yes, it’s entirely possible for a country to run exclusively on renewable energy. Portugal just did it, and it ran for four straight days last week.
According to <a href="http://zero.ong/consumo-de-eletricidade-em-portugal-foi-assegurado-durante-mais-de-4-dias-seguidos-por-fontes-renovaveis/">a recent report</a>: &#8220;The consumption of electricity in Portugal was fully covered by renewable sources for more than four days (more precisely, between 6:45 on May 7 and 17:45 May 11).”
<figure class="wp-caption" style="width: auto; height: auto;"><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2016/05/Portugal-Renewable-Energy.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image Credit: <a href="http://zero.ong/">ZERO</a></figcaption></figure>
Back in the first quarter of 2013, the country was able to successfully run on 70% renewable sources of energy; and in 2014, it was running on 64%.
Portugal’s renewable energy sources mostly come from biofuels and waste. But given Portugal’s ideal weather conditions, wind and hydropower also contribute greatly to the country’s ability to harness renewable energy more efficiently. Of course, location and size also help to make this process easier. For larger, more industrial nations, such changes could not be so easily instituted.
Portugal&#8217;s milestone comes after <a href="https://futurism.com/germany-ran-95-renewable-energy-last-sunday/">Germany announced it was able to source 95% of its energy on renewables</a> last week.

Hard Science

A study conducted by the National Energy Network (REN) and the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN) reports that Portugal was able to run on renewable energy for four consecutive days.

/Portugal

Earth & Energy

The World’s First Power Plant Combining Hydroelectricity and Solar Energy Is Now Open

Hard Science

An Entire Country Ran On Renewable Energy for 4 Straight Days

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