The EDA Group has announced that EDA Renováveis, S.A. is implementing an ambitious investment plan to expand its energy production capacity from renewable sources in the Azores, including geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar.

According to information made available to the press, the main focus is on geothermal energy, leveraged by EU funding available through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

On the island of São Miguel, this effort translates into an increase in installed capacity at the Pico Vermelho Geothermal Power Plant, totaling 12 MW, and the revitalization of the Ribeira Grande Geothermal Power Plant, with a capacity of 5 MW. Together, these projects will significantly boost clean energy production on the island, with a total of 17 MW of installed capacity.

According to a statement, on July 1, EDA Renováveis signed a contract with Exergy International, S.r.l. for the execution of the Ribeira Grande Plant revitalization project.

Exergy, a specialist in geothermal solutions, is responsible for the construction of 33 power plants worldwide, with a total installed capacity of around 538 MW. The company returns to the archipelago after leading the installation of the Pico Alto Geothermal Power Plant on Terceira Island.

More. The contract, valued at €24.5 million, encompasses the design, construction, supply, assembly, testing, and commissioning of a new 5 MW generator set, replacing the two units installed in 1994 (2 × 2.5 MW).

This project is supported by previous work to reinforce geofluid capture, which included the drilling of three new wells — CL8, CL9, and CL10 — completed in 2021, along with respective productivity tests. These tests enabled the characterization of the available resource and the accurate sizing of the new infrastructure.

With this strategic investment, EDA Renováveis reaffirms its commitment to the energy transition in the Azores, promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing the archipelago’s endogenous resources.

In Correio dos Açores – Natalino Viveiros, director