New airport solar plants commissioned in Portugal
SunMind, VINCI Concessions' subsidiary dedicated to renewable energy, has commissioned two new photovoltaic power plants at Madeira and Porto Santo airports in Portugal, marking a new step in VINCI Concessions' strategy to integrate renewable energy solutions across its infrastructure portfolio.
These projects illustrate an integrated approach combining infrastructure operation and energy production to support decarbonisation. The installations are based on two 15-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), enabling the direct supply of locally generated, low-carbon electricity to airport operations while contributing to the long-term stability and resilience of energy supply.
At Funchal Airport, a 1,4 MWp photovoltaic plant installed on carports will generate approximately 1.87 GWh annually, covering 26% of the airport’s electricity needs. The project includes 2,411 solar panels across 400 parking spaces, enhancing passenger comfort through shaded parking while avoiding around 930 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.
At Porto Santo Airport, a 184 kWp ground-mounted installation will produce around 297 MWh annually, representing 24% of the airport’s electricity consumption and avoiding approximately 148 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.
These projects are particularly relevant in island environments such as Madeira and Porto Santo, where energy systems rely on imported fuels and have limited interconnections. On-site solar generation therefore contributes to improving both energy resilience and the environmental performance of airport infrastructure.
The commissioning of these new plants follows SunMind’s first photovoltaic project in Portugal at Faro Airport commissioned in 2022. With three installations now in operation and further developments underway in the Azores, Porto and Lisbon, VINCI Concessions continues to scale a replicable model across its network, drawing on the combined expertise of SunMind and VINCI Airports. This approach supports the deployment of integrated, long-term renewable energy solutions tailored to infrastructure and aligned with partners’ decarbonisation objectives.
