Agrovoltaics under discussion: opportunities and challenges of solar energy in agriculture

Abreu Advogados hosted, on 27 January 2026, in Lisbon, the event “Opportunities and Challenges of Solar Energy in Agriculture and Viticulture”, dedicated to analysing the role of agrovoltaics and photovoltaic self consumption in the energy transition of the agricultural, agri food and wine sectors, bringing together experts to discuss opportunities, constraints and the legal framework of these solutions in Portugal. The session opened with remarks by Ricardo Henriques, Partner at Abreu Advogados.

The discussion focused on the development of agrovoltaics based on self consumption models, highlighting their role in directly supporting agricultural activity, namely by supplying energy for irrigation, cooling systems, wineries and other essential infrastructure. The differences compared to traditional solar projects were addressed, as well as the contribution of these solutions to energy efficiency, cost reduction and enhanced competitiveness, without conflicting with agricultural land use.

Key topics included project location and territorial constraints in areas classified as RAN, REN or Natura 2000, project scale and individual and collective self consumption models, as well as Renewable Energy Communities. Regulatory and contractual challenges were also discussed, with emphasis on ensuring legal certainty, predictability and long term sustainability.

The panel featured Duarte Caro de Sousa, Managing Director at Engie, Isabel Ribeiro, Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Innovation at Nutrifarms, Grupo Sovena, Luís Loureiro, Executive Board Member at Symington, Pedro Freitas, Head of Smart Solutions at Iberdrola, and Tiago Corrêa do Amaral, Partner at Abreu Advogados, with moderation by José Diogo Albuquerque, CEO of Agroportal. The closing remarks were delivered by João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Consultant at the Abreu Advogados Knowledge Institute. Abreu Advogados thanks all speakers for their valuable contributions to an informed discussion on the future of solar energy in agriculture and viticulture in Portugal.