“The installation of this plant in this location [near the International Tagus Special Protection Area] must be reviewed, otherwise it could cause irreversible losses to endangered species and habitats of national and international importance,” the environmentalists argued.

In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, Quercus explained that, despite the importance of renewable energy production for the energy transition and the fight against climate change, “the size and location of this project raise serious environmental concerns.”

The Beira photovoltaic plant project involves the installation of 425,600 photovoltaic modules, with a total capacity of 266 megawatts (MW), across a 524.4-hectare area in the municipalities of Castelo Branco (Monforte da Beira, Malpica do Tejo, Benquerenças, the Union of Parishes of Escalos de Baixo and Mata, and Castelo Branco) and Idanha-a-Nova (Ladoeiro and the Union of Parishes of Idanha-a-Nova and Alcafozes).

According to environmentalists, this is an excessive development area, which includes the installation of a new 33-kilometer power line and exacerbates the cumulative impact of energy transmission infrastructure on the territory.

Furthermore, they argued that it is "proximity and overlap" with the Special Protection Zone (SPA) of the International Tagus, Erges, and Ponsul.

"The project's study area covers a significant portion of the new SPA boundary, already approved, which is justified by its ecological relevance and the need to protect several endangered species."

Quercus also emphasized that, according to the technical document supporting the change in the SPA boundaries, the area includes cork and holm oak groves and open areas interspersed with sparse scrub, "essential for species such as the Iberian Imperial Eagle, the Black Stork, the Hen Harrier, the Little Bustard, and the Black-bellied Sandgrouse, among others."

"The implementation area constitutes potential nesting and feeding habitat for the Iberian Imperial Eagle, a critically endangered species in Portugal."

They noted that the SPA expansion was approved precisely to ensure protection of the feeding, nesting, and roosting areas of this and other species of high conservation value.

The environmental association argued that areas that are already artificialized or have less ecological value should be prioritized for the installation of large solar plants and said that it is essential to ensure compatibility between the energy transition and biodiversity conservation.